MR BARKER.

Northern Times, 25 May, 1912

LOSS OF KOOMBANA

PORT HEDLAND EDITOR

ON THE BOARD'S FINDING,

CAPT. ALLAN UNEASY.

Perth, May 20.

It is reported that Mr. W. H. Barker, 

proprietor of the "Hedland Advocate", 

has stated that he has just read the 

finding of the Koombana Inquiry Board, 

and says that the statement - that the 

steamer when, she left Port Hedland 

was drawing 19 feet aft is not in accordance 

with what the harbourmaster told him. The 

harbourmaster made an assertion that the

Koombana was drawing 11 feet forward 
and 16 feet aft. As to the statement that there 

was no particular evidence regarding bad 

weather, Mr. Barker says for hours before the

Koombana sailed from Port Hedland people 

were battening down preparing for a gale, 

and forty luggers had run into the creek from 

outside for shelter.

Furthermore, Capt. Allan told him he

did not know whether to go out or

not, as he did not like the glass. He

was palpably uneasy and disinclined

to go. He remarked: "The passengers 

think they will get to Broome tomorrow 

(Thursday), but they will be lucky if they 

get there by Saturday. I am going right out 

to sea." Mr. Barker says - the Koombana 

rolled through the harbour entrance and 

had an ugly list to port. Mr. Barker was

not called upon to give evidence at
the inquiry.

No surprise that Mr. Barker was 'not called upon to give evidence at the inquiry'. 

Fix this text

In my opinion this sums up the truth of 20 March, 1912. Considering how quickly the Inquiry was convened how could it have been possible for Mr. Barker to get from Port Hedland to Fremantle on time? The Inquiry was a disgrace to the concept of 'seeing justice done' and Mr. Barker called it out for what it was. A whitewash is too kind a description!

courtesy Trove.