22 MILES FROM BALLA BALLA.

The Advertiser, Adelaide, Wednesday 3 April, 1912.

THE KOOMBANA.

WRECKAGE FOUND.

Perth, April 2.

All doubts as to the fate of the steamer

Koombana were settled to-night by the 

receipt of the following message by the

Deputy Postmaster-General from the 

post-master at Port Hedland:-

"Portion of the Koombana was found 

50 miles from here by the steamer Gorgon. 

There is a lot of small wreckage about 

Bedout Island."

Bedout Island is 52 n miles from Port Hedland. 

Nothing is yet known of the fate of the

130 passengers and crew, but it is 

feared, that all are lost.

The captain of the Bullarra, who has

been searching the islands along the coast,

and whose vessel suffered very severely 

from the cyclone, has given the following

account of his experiences:-

"The weather was looking dirty when the 

ship left Port Hedland on March 20, but 

after consultation with the captain of the 

Koombana, which left 20 minutes later, 

we resolved to put out, the Bullarra 

going south and the Koombana north. 

When about 22 miles from Ballaballa very 

bad weather was struck, but all preparations 

had been made for this. Wind and sea 

increased in fury, and a stockless anchor 

on 120 fathoms of chain was dropped 

over the side. Men were placed forward 

with oil, which was allowed to drip, and 

proved very effective in breaking the seas." 

courtesy Google Earth

courtesy Trove

A Broome telegram states that a schooner

and and two luggers are searching for the 

Koombana. These vessels are working in 

conjunction towards Patterson's shoals, one 

on the third reef, one between the second 

and first reef, and the other between No. 1 

reef and the shore. They will then meet and 

work on the other side of the shoals, and 

work towards Condon and Bedout Islands 

to Port Hedland. If nothing transpires they

will proceed to Rowley shoals, a distance

of 150 miles (180 miles from Port Hedland). 

The vessels are provisioned for a month, 

but they do not in any case expect to be 

back before a fortnight. On arrival at Port 

Hedland a telegram will be sent to Broome 

stating their movements. 

The police authorities have instructed constables

to be on the lookout along the coast from Broome 

to Wallal. A man has been dispatched from Lagrange,

half-way to Wallal, and south from tnis point a man 

will patrol halfway north to meet him from Wallal. 

A man will be sent halfway to Condon, and from the 

latter point a boat will be used.

The Trawler's Search.

The Federal trawler Endeavour sailed

from Port Adelaide on Tuesday afternoon

on her mission to the north-west coast of

Western Australia, to assist in the search

for the missing steamer Koombana. Before 

leaving Port Adelaide the Endeavor filled her 

bunker space with coal and took on board 

stores.

CONFIRMATORY NEWS.

Perth. April 2.

This evening the Premier received the

following telegram from the resident 

magistrate at Broome:-

"Message, just received from postmaster, 

Port Hedland, reads as follows:-'Jones, 

of steamer Gorgon, just ashore, found 

door of stateroom 53 miles from here, 

north of Bedout Island, where there is a 

lot of small wreckage. There appears to 

be no doubt. Cannot get further news till 

steamer comes in, and reports in the 

morning."

This was the turning point.

Mr. Scaddan has telegraphed to the

resident magistrate at Port Hedland for

further particulars, and has telegraphed

the information already received to the

Prime Minister, suggesting that the sailing

of the Federal trawler Endeavor to Western

Australia for Koombana search should be 

stopped.

A moment of harsh reality had dawned. Koombana and all her souls were lost.