PORT HEDLAND 'OPINION'.

The Mercury, Hobart, 6 April, 1912

LOSS OF THE KOOMBANA.

PROBABLY STRUCK A REEF

AND SANK.

CAPTAIN DISINCLINED TO LEAVE

SHELTER.

"WILL BE LUCKY IF I GET

BACK."

PERTH (W.A)., April 4.

There is little to add in connection

with the loss of the Adelaide Steamship

Company's steamer Koombana.

Judging from the direction of the

wind during the gale, the opinion held

at Port Hedland is that the ill fated

vessel went down in the vicinity of

Bedout Island. It is thought that

probably the absence of a light on the

island caused the captain to misjudge

his position, and the steamer to strike

a reef in the vicinity, which runs a

long way out from the island, in which

case, in such weather, the vessel would

have immediately turned over, and

sunk. No person could have lived in

such a sea for five minutes, and the

vicinity is noted for the existence of

myriads of sharks.

Captain Allen, scorned disinclined to

leave Port Hedland, and when, he 

decided to do so said, "I am going

straight out to sea, and will be lucky

if I get back to Broome on Saturday."

The Koombana left port at half-past

10 o'clock on March 20, with her 

propeller beating out of water. When

passing the entrance of the harbour

she rolled deeply. Captain Allen stated

that he would fill the ballast tanks

when he crossed the outer bank. The

ship headed due north, and was 

followed about an hour afterwards by the

Bullarra, going south.

Captain Mills, of the steamer Minderoo, 

is inclined to the belief that the

ship was lost in the vicinity of Bedout

Island.

courtesy Trove.