Daily Commercial News, 14 May, 1912.
The Chief Harbormaster (Captain
Irvine) said inquiries had been made
in England and America as to the best
unattended light available, and
eventually a Birmingham firm supplied
the Bedout light, which was arranged to
burn for 12 months without attention,
compressed acetylene being used. It
started on December 10, 1909, and up to
the time of the recent failure had given
entire satisfaction. It had never been
left for 12 months without attention, and
when visited was always found to be burning
satisfactorily. The first intimation he had of
its failure was on March 26, and telegrams
were sent to all ports advising them that
the light was out. The notices to ship
masters stated that the light was un-
wached, and they were warned not to
place too much reliance upon it.
Passing the buck...
Passing the buck...
Kalgoorie Miner, 27 April, 1912
Mr. Moxon also read a number of
reports from pearlers and others in
the Nor'-West on the state of the
weather. In the reports it was stated
by some (referring to Bedout Island)
that the light on the island, which
was, a self-attended one, was not
alight on March 13 and 15.
The report received by Mr. Moxon
from Port Hedland that the light was
out on March 13 had never reached him
(Captain Irvine). The first advice
concerning the light having been
extinguished on that date was
brought under his notice on
March 26. Immediately on receipt
of that advice he had wired to all
the ports a warning regarding the
light. 'I am of opinion that the ship
did not touch Bedout Island, as
wreckage would have been found
there.'
Did Captain Irvine really expect the Court to swallow the story that Mr. Moxon had received the report but not he - a light which had not been working for 13 days (ultimately 24 days), during which time Koombana had foundered????
The following report fleshes out Captain Irvine's disingenuous approach to this serious matter:
Daily Herald, 12 April, 1912.
THE KOOMBANA
FAILURE OF ISLAND LIGHTS.
Considerable comment has been made
as to the efficacy of the self-tended lights,
such as are used at Bedout Island and
elsewhere, and the opinion has been
expressed that owing to the.fact that the
light was found to be out when the island
was visited recently they are not reliable
(says the "West Australian" of April 5).
When spoken to in this connection yesterday
afternoon, the Chief Harbor Master (Captain
Irvine) stated that when the light was first
installed on Bedout, instructions were issued
to mariners giving particulars as to installation.
and a particular warning was on that occasion
conveyed to them that, as the light was a
self-tended one, too much reliance should not
be placed upon it. The light, had everything gone
right, should have remained alight until June
next, but, as it was, it had remained in good
working order, day and night, from December,
1909, till last month. It could hardly be wondered
at that a cyclone which could bring disaster to a
steamer like the Koombana should have the effect
of extinguishing a light like that at Bedout. He
doubted if, in the event of a cyclone striking
Fremantle, difficulties would not be experienced
in keeping the lights at Rottness burning properly.
The Government steamer Penguin would be
leaving, however, towards the end of the
present month for the north-west to overhaul
the lights along the coast, and in the meantime
word had been passed to all master mariners on
the coast acquainting them with the fact that the
light was extinguished.
The purpose of having a light on a low-lying island was to protect shipping. Warning masters not to rely upon it was in effect a contradiction in terms. Furthermore, Captain Irvine knew full well that the light was extinguished from 1 week prior to the cyclone. It was untruthful to suggest that the cyclone had been responsible for the light 'going out'.
Captain Irvine had no qualms about placing this untruth in the march gazette:
'Western Australia—North-West Coast. NOTICE is hereby given that the hurricane which passed over Bedout Island—lat. 19.35 S. 119.6 E.—on the 22nd inst., extinguished the unattended light established on this island in December, 1909. Further notice will be issued as soon as the lamp has been re-lighted. Charts affected. No. 1055—Bedout Island to Cape Cuvier. No. 1048—Buccaneer Archipelago to Bedout. C. J. IRVINE, Chief Harbour Master. Harbour and Light Department, Fremantle, 30th March, 1912.'
https://www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/gazette.nsf/gazlist/6205E4E859C7A3E548257C1D0015457F/$file/gg023.pdf
And then finally:
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
Western Australia-North-West Coast.
1516/12.
NOTICE is hereby given that the Bedout Island Light,
lat. 19.35 S., long. 119.6 E., has been relighted.
Description of light as follows:-Unattended, white,
flashing every 10 seconds, thus: Flash 2 secs., eclipse 8
secs.; height of focal plane, 66 feet; visible 14 miles in
clear weather.
Charts affected.
No. 1055,-Bedout Island. to Cape Cuvier.
No. 1048.-Buccaneer Archipelago to Bedout.
C. J. IRVINE,
Chief Harbour Master.
Harbour and Light Department,
Fremantle, 22nd May, 1912.
 |
| Present day Bedout Light, courtesy Lighthouses of Western Australia |
No comments:
Post a Comment