INTENSE UPJOHN INTERVIEW.

The following extract can be found on Annie Boyd's excellent Koombana Days online resource site. 

EXTRACTS. IN THE COURT OF MARINE INQUIRY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

IN THE MATTER OF THE NAVIGATION ACT 1904 and IN THE MATTER of an Inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss at sea between Port Hedland and Broome whilst on a voyage from Fremantle to Derby via Ports of the S.S. "KOOMBANA" on or about the 20th March 1912.

April 25th 1912.

BEFORE: E. P. Dowley Esq. R.M. (presiding)

Captain F. L. Parkes ) Assessors.

Captain J. W. W. Yates )

THE CROWN PROSECUTOR (Mr. F. PARKER) appeared to represent the Chief Harbor Master, Captain C. J. Irvine.

MR. MOSS K.C. appeared to represent the Adelaide Steamship Company.

[Upjohn testimony p1]

HARRY UPJOHN, Sworn.

EXAMINED THE CROWN PROSECUTOR.

You are the Master of the s.s. "Bullarra,"? - Yes.

Were you the Master of her on the 18th March last? - Yes.

Did you arrive at Port Hedland on the 18th March? - Yes.

What were the tides then? - Tides were making 19 feet springs.

This figure of 19 ft. played a key roll in the disastrous sequence of events unfolding, 20 March, 1912.

What day did the s.s. "Koombana" arrive at Port Hedland? 

- On the 19th March.

During the time you were in Port Hedland did you have any

conversation with Captain Allen in respect of the weather?
- Yes.

On what date was that? - On the morning of the 20th.

Will you tell the Court what the conversation was? - It took

place on my ship. We had a general conversation and Capt.

Allen said "What do you think about the weather?"

What was your reply? - "Its overcast and a bit dirty but there is nothing in it."

Can you fix the time that this conversation took place? - It was just before breakfast or just after.

That would be about 8 o'clock? - Yes.

What was the state of the weather at this time? - Very nice fresh breeze, overcast and cloudy.

It struck you as being a bit dirty? - Just overcast.

What did you expect from the weather? - I expected the same right through: fine if anything.

Did you have any further conversation with Capt. Allen about the weather? - None.

Was anything said in reference to leaving Port Hedland or not? - No.

There is no doubt that Captain Upjohn attempted to give an impression that the weather was fine and no threat of a cyclone. He blatantly denied a conversation which took place as follows:

Captain Allen Koombana: "I do

not like the look of the weather. 

Captain Upjohn; what do you intend 

doing?"

Captain Upjohn (Bullarra): "I have

made up my mind to go out and your

boat is a far better one than mine."

Captain Allen: "Well, if you intend

going out, I do not suppose it will do

for me to stop here."

Furthermore, Captain Upohn's initial comments to the press were as follows:

'The weather was looking dirty when the 

ship (Bullarra) 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 Bullara

going south and the Koombana, north.

When about 22 miles from Balla Balla

very bad weather was struck.' 

Dirty weather referred to anticipated storm conditions.

The interesting thing is this; The Board of Trade encouraged masters to face storms out at sea rather than in port where the steamer could be driven ashore and wrecked. Captain Upjohn could have been frank from the start at the Inquiry and stated this well-known 'regulation'. 

However, he knew, as did everyone involved in this farce that Koombana was significantly top heavy; her captain reluctant to depart under such circumstances and tanks to be adequately filled at sea in such conditions, a virtual impossibility.

But Captain Upjohn had encouraged (dared) Captain Allen to depart and this he had to downplay as far as humanly possible.

Fix this text

MR. DOWLEY. He left before you? - Yes.

CROWN

PROSECUTOR. At what time? -

[Upjohn testimony p2]

UPJOHN. About 20 minutes before I did: between 10 and 11 o'clock a.m.

CROWN

PROSECUTOR. Can you tell the Court: did the weather alter between 10 and

11.20 ? - No. (ctd)

What was the reading of the barometer? - I looked at the

barometer at 6 o'clock and it stood at 29.50.

Had there been anything during the night or early morning? -

There was a squall at 4 o'clock that morning.

What was the nature of this squall? - Just a puff.

Again a transparent attempt to play down weather conditions. A 'puff' is about as mild as it can get. Residents of Port Hedland who were battening down in anticipation of a blow and luggers were seeking refuge higher up in the creek.

Did you look at the barometer on account of that? - No: it

was my usual practice to look at the barometer at about 6

o'clock.

It stood then at 29.50? - Yes.

The Pearlers' Association of Broome advised that if the normal barometer reading of 29.90 dropped by 2 tenths, i.e. to 29.70, this should alert pearlers to the imminent threat of a cyclone. 29.50 is 5 tenths.

Did you look at the barometer again before you left Port

Hedland? - I do not recollect.

It is highly unlikely Captain Upjohn would not have consulted his barometer before departing Port Hedland, and remembering such.

A cattleman aboard Bullarra claimed in a press report, 1926:

"I subsequently learnt that the glass was 

extremely low, 28 something."

When Captain Allen spoke about the weather, did he mention

anything about the barometer reading? - Yes he did mention

it but I do not remember what it was.

Again, unlikely and evasive.

Was your glass a high or low one? - Low.

There was nothing whatever said about leaving or not? -

Not a word.

Contrary to this statement, Mr. Barker of Port Hedland had this to say:

"Captain Allen, when questioned 

by Mr. Barker as to whether he was 

going to put out, said he did not know. 

"I don't like the glass," was Captain 

Allen's remark, "and another 

24 hours here will not matter."

'Another 24 hours' referred to delaying departure for a day. It is absolutely crystal clear from this extract that Captain Allen did not want to depart into what he knew would be dangerous conditions for his top heavy steamer. 

Where were you when the "Koombana" left Port Hedland? -- I was on the lower bridge and the Chief Officer was with me.

What were you doing? -- We were just looking at the "Koombana"

Did you notice her trim? -- She was in excellent trim.

Did you notice the draft? -- No. I noticed how well she

behaved and the Chief Officer said the same.

A carefully constructed answer. If Captain Upjohn had confirmed that he knew Koombana's draft he would not have been in a position to claim 'how well she behaved'.

Have you any reason for that remark? - No, but she looked so well.

Did you notice her propeller? - It was well submerged.

We shall return to this thorny issue.

You and the Chief Officer were standing watching her? - Yes.

When she went out of the Harbor, did she roll at all? - No.

With a gale from the NE and heavy ground swell from the NW, it would have been virtually impossible for Koombana, in such light condition, not to have rolled as she crossed the bar.

[Upjohn testimony p3]

CROWN PROSECUTOR (ctd)

When you went out, what length of time did you follow in the

"Koombana's" Course? - I followed out in her course, keeping

leads astern, somewhere about half an hour or three quarters.

The cattleman had this to say:

"hearing the officers in charge of the watch 

remark that we were running out three miles, 

I gleaned that something was expected." 

By 'expected', the cattleman meant severe weather.

And you last saw her? - About two hours after leaving.

By which time Bullarra, which did not have to fill tanks at sea, would have covered at least 13 miles - probably significantly more and been out of sight. So why was Koombana still in sight after 2 hours? Keeping an eye on proceedings, i.e. the filling of tanks in a gale? Or deciding whether to tackle the ominous weather in the west?

Was she proceeding on her ordinary course to Broome? -

On the ordinary course to Bedout.

Was she in good trim? - Yes.

Bert Clarke who watched Koombana for two hours from his vantage point (having given signals as the steamers departed port) commented that Koombana rolled and pitched excessively.

The top of her propellor, according to the plan, is about on

the 18' mark: You say she was well submerged? - Yes.

Captain Upjohn would later contradict this observation. We know that the upper limit of the propeller was 16.5 ft. according to plans, not 18 ft.. As we shall see, Captain Upjohn's estimation of Koombana's draft aft of 16.5 ft. would have allowed for a whopping 1.5 ft. of the propeller not submerged.

From the time you left Port Hedland until the time you lost

sight of the "Koombana", had the wind changed? - No.

Had the velocity altered? - No.

The cattleman had this to say about the conditions:

"there was an overcast sky and half a

gale blowing from the E.N.E."

During that day, when did the direction of the wind change

first? - About 4 p.m.

Where were you bound? - South to Balla Balla.

You were going in the opposite direction to that taken by the

"Koombana"? - Yes.

What time did the wind change its direction first? - Some-

where between 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock. It is very carefully noted

in the log book. The wind was E.N.E at 5 o'clock. Commenced

to flicker and went back again. (portion of log book put in).

Steaming into the system.

When did the wind change? - Between 2 and 4 o'clock.

Coming back to the time you left Port Hedland? - At 6.20am

we commenced swinging, at 10.40 cast off. There was a strong

N.E. wind, cloudy.

Oh, so now it is a 'strong NE wind'. Inconsistencies creeping into Captain Upjohn's testimony.

Mr. DOWLEY. You say the wind changed from E.N.E. From what? - There was a strong breeze which changed from N.E.

Again the cattleman:

"there was an overcast sky and half a

gale blowing from the E.N.E."

Newspaper reports:

'The steamer Bullarra sailed from Port

Hedland for Cossack via Balla Balla on
March 20, at 11 a.m., and encountered
a strong north-east gale on leaving the
harbor.' 

'Between 2 and 4 p.m. the wind changed

from north-east to east-north-east. At 4.20

the engines were slowed, and at 5 p.m. he

altered the Bullarra's course and put to 

sea.'

CROWN

PROSECUTOR. At what time did you lose sight of the "Koombana" - about

12 o'clock? - A little before, when the sea became rough.

The cattleman had this to say:

'When we came on deck for the midday 

meal, the Bullara and the Koombana 

were stern on to each other, and the 

distance apart being about five miles.' 

According to the cattleman Koombana was still well within sight at midday. Captain Upjohn contradicted himself in other statements referring to Koombana being in sight for about 2 hours out at sea - takes the time to roughly 1 p.m.

When did you notice the sea change to rough? When you left it

was a nice pleasant breeze and smooth? - Yes, it

freshened later.

A reminder:

'The steamer Bullarra sailed from Port

Hedland for Cossack via Balla Balla on

March 20, at 11 a.m., and encountered

a strong north-east gale on leaving the

harbor.' 

[Upjohn testimony p4]

When the wind freshened and the sea became rough, was the

Koombana still in sight? - Yes, but I lost sight of her shortly

after.

Did you notice what weather she was making? Did you see her?

- I saw her but could not tell how she was behaving.

Naturally Captain Upjohn played the whole scenario down, fresh breezes replacing gales and nothing about Koombana rolling and pitching. The trend was set. 

The next entry is in regard to the weather? - Heavy N.E. gale,

heavy sea, 4 o'clock.

Some newspaper reports stated that this coincided with 22 miles from Balla Balla. This means that Bullarra had covered 28.5 miles since midday when she was stern on to each other with Koombana i.e. an average of 7 knots which is unrealistic with a gale behind, and not the average of 10 knots (log) quoted by Upjohn at the Inquiry. Something was amiss. If, however, Bullarra finally departed Koombana's company, 5 miles distant, at 1 pm we get an average of 9.5 knots which is far closer to the mark. Was Bullarra holding back in order to be certain that Koombana did not get into trouble, pitching and rolling? It certainly seems that way considering Bullarra held back until as late as 1 pm and Captain Upjohn denied this.

You were still on your course for Balla Balla? - Yes. At 4.20

p.m. I slowed the engines.

This was confirmed by the cattleman who said:

"We were down amongst the cattle again fixing up, 

when at 4.30 p.m. Captain Upjohn called 

out to us to look out as she was going to roll.

As he was going to heave-to, we came up

on deck At 6 p.m."

At 5 o'clock you altered your course from S 50 W to N.E? - Yes.

Bow into the NE gale ---> hurricane.

What other note have you? - Put screens up and tarpaulins in

main weather rigging and round poop, took soundings and found

25 fathoms.

You were then steering out to open sea after doing this? -

Yes.

The next entry? - At 8, heavy gale, high seas, ship laboring

heavily and heavy rain.

At that time what did you think of the weather? - That it was

bad and getting serious. This was between 8 and 10 p.m.

You continued out to sea? - Yes.

Will you tell the Court what the weather was. At midnight

you reported it being a hurricane? - Yes, the ship was rolling

heavily.

Were these entries made afterwards? - The entries were made

roughly in another book and copied afterwards.

At 10.30 the wind went from E.N.E to E.? - Yes, at 11.20

mountainous seas. (log book read).

I notice that the wind after 8 o'clock got to W.S.W. The

wind increased in velocity about midday of the 21st? - Yes.

Was there any alteration in the barometer? - There was no

difference until between 3 and 4 o'clock.

What then? - It dropped a little but not suddenly.

Stressing to the Court that one could not rely on barometer readings. 

Did you keep watch of the barometer? - Yes, later on, every

hour.

[Upjohn testimony p5]

Between 3 and 4 o'clock you did not pay particular attention

but at 10 o'clock, when you realised the weather was bad, you

kept constant watch? - Yes.

I notice you were in the centre of the cyclone between noon

and 4 p.m.? - At 12.30 it was calm.

...

After the blow was over and you had effected temporary repairs,

did you engage in searching for the Koombana? What area did you search? -

(Chart put in and area shown).

[Upjohn testimony p6]

What wreckage did you pick up? - An awning spar, portion

of motor launch, a panel from the ceiling of the smoking

room or music room, some covers of the lifeboats tanks and

a door.

(Wreckage produced).

You examined that carefully? - Yes.

Did you form any opinion as to what had caused the wreckage?

- The force of the wind and sea.

It had clearly become important to reinforce that the hurricane conditions were to blame for the loss of Koombana.

The panel is forced right out with the screws adhering? - Yes.

Have you formed any opinion? Does the Court desire to hear

any opinion? -

MR. DOWLEY. It may be given.

THE CROWN

PROSECUTOR. Have you any doubt as to this being the wreckage of the

"Koombana"? - There is not the slightest doubt. The piece

from the motor launch has the Company's crest on it.

You know the door? - Yes, it belonged to the cabin on port side on the promenade deck.

What door is it? - It is a stateroom door.

During this blow, did the wind shift any of your boats at all? -

Yes. The lee boats. One of the boats had a hole bumped in it.

Were any other boats effected by the wind? - They were

strained and damaged, and chafed in the chocks.

Did you lose any boats? - No.

An interesting fact. Bullarra went through the eye of the cyclone and none of the boats were lost, which should theoretically have applied to the newer Koombana, if she had been subjected to similar circumstances.

Were all the boats damaged? - Yes. They were all lashed down.

...

[Upjohn testimony p7]

...

THE CROWN

PROSECUTOR. You know the "Koombana" well. Where did she carry her

cargo, etc? - Yes, I know her well. She had her bunkers

full and they carry about 580 (480) tons. According to Captain

Williams she had 80 tons of cargo in the lower hold, 150

tons in No. 2 lower, between No. 2 and tween decks - 20 tons.

A total of about 800 tons.

Minimal cargo and dead weight. In this, Captain Upjohn's version, the 80 tons and 150 tons were stowed in lower holds, and only 20 tons higher up. This makes complete sense in terms of improving G.M. (steadying the ship).

However, Matthew John Williams, Marine Superintendent, in his own words stated during interview that the Derby cargo, 175 tons, was stowed forward in number 2 hold and 85 tons for Broome, stowed in the after part of number 1 and 2 'tween deck, higher up. Total, 260 tons (the official Inquiry figure). These units were stowed and secured before departure from Fremantle. 

Perhaps, what Captain Upjohn inadvertently let slip was that these units of cargo were redistributed lower down to improve G.M.; which although a sensible decision might have made the new, temporary placements prone to shifting in heavy weather. 

Also, Captain Upjohn's total was 10 tons short of the official 260 tons.

courtesy Annie Boyd.

Have you known of a case when the "Koombana" has all her

tanks empty at one time? When she was a light ship? - No.

This was a loaded statement referring to allegations that Captain Allen departed Port Hedland with all ballast tanks empty. Captain Upjohn was passing judgment that he had never been on Koombana with all tanks empty; by implication that it was not necessary under any circumstances and not advised. He had entered and departed Port Hedland numerous times as Chief Officer of the Koombana! 

If she had all her tanks empty and only 800 tons on board

her, with coal and everything, what draft would she be? -

She would be 16'6 aft and about 12' forward.

Here we have a far better approximation of the truth. Koombana was in very light condition. It is interesting that no one questioned then the propeller being 18 ft. rather than 16.5 ft. and yet fully submerged!!

Port Hedland Harbourmaster:

'The Harbormaster's assertion

was that she was drawing 11ft. 

forward and 16ft. aft.'

Proof of the Harbourmaster's aft figure can be deduced by using Upjohn's afterpeak and number 6 tank empty figure of 16'6 ft.. This supported the balance of tanks being filled. But if the balance were empty the figure of 16'6 ft. would drop further, most likely to within the region of 16 ft..

The Inquiry was to come to the conclusion that Koombana was drawing 19 ft. aft, which was impossible given the bar clearance of 19 ft.. Even their supplicant witness did not venture a ridiculous aft draft figure like that!!

MR. DOWLEY. The tanks are distributed about the ship? - Yes.

THE CROWN

PROSECUTOR. About how many times did you go into Port Hedland on the

"Koombana"? - About 18 times.

When at spring tides, what empty tanks would you have? -

The after peak tank would be empty: it would be consumed on

the voyage up from Fremantle to fill tanks 4 and 5 - fresh

water.

A very interesting insight into the workings of Koombana. In other words fresh water would be consumed from tanks 4 and 5 midships during the voyage and then replaced by fresh water from the afterpeak which in turn, empty, facilitated access over the bar - very clever!

How would the other tanks be? - All full. Numbers 1, 2, 3,

4 and 5.   No 6 might be pumped out.

The empty tanks were right at the back, i.e. aft. 

With the tanks in this State what draft would she be then? -

About 17' with the after peak tank out.

Koombana's draft with afterpeak empty was 17 ft. which could be further reduced to 16'6 ft. by emptying number 6 as well. With ALL tanks empty, again we have confirmation of the Harbourmaster's assertion of 16 ft. aft.

Could you go into Port Hedland on a spring tide with that? -

Quite easily.

There would be no necessity to empty any tanks? - No.

Now Upjohn was unambiguous in his criticism of Captain Allen. Theoretically, Koombana could comfortably clear the bar, 19 ft., with 17 ft. aft and 12 to 13 ft. forward (std practice) except for one little detail. There was a ground swell over the bar and Koombana needed greater clearance in order not to strike, and strike hard.

Captain Upjohn had 12 months', 18 x voyage experience on Koombana as Chief Officer, and yet Captain Allen was to get command of the flagship while Upjohn was relegated to the ageing Bullarra. There could have been animosity. Also, by criticizing Captain Allen, Upjohn could also have been sending a not so subtle to the employers that if he had commanded Koombana, the disaster might not have happened.

Personally I doubt whether Harry Upjohn could have saved the day.

If there were any tanks empty in Port Hedland, how long

would it take to fill these tanks? - Number 8 (error, 6) would be run out in an hour and the after peak in about an hour and it would then be pumped up.

How long would it take to fill them? - From 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

The implications were serious. It would take a significant period of time to fill tanks, in ideal circumstances, never mind at sea in a gale and ground swell.

3 1/2 hours for two tanks - how long for all tanks!!!

[Upjohn testimony p8]

Have you formed any theory as to what became of the "Koombana"?--

The only thing I can think of is that she was smashed

up by the cyclone.

In what way do you think?-- By the force of the wind and sea.

Could she have turned turtle?-- Impossible.

Given everything we know about Koombana and Captain Upjohn's intimate experience with the ship, such an answer was ridiculous and clearly they were closing ranks against allegations of unseaworthiness. His own ageing steamer had survived the forces of wind and sea!

CROSS EXAMINED

MR. MOSS. Do you consider you were lucky in having escaped? - We escaped by a miracle.

Your boat was in a battered condition? - Yes.

What occurred to your funnel? - It was carried away in the early part of the blow.

You went to Broome to effect temporary repairs and for water? - Yes.

That was before you searched for the "Koombana"? - Yes.

Have you been in cyclonic weather before? - Yes, in the China

Sea, when a ship went down alongside of us.

Was it very bad? - Not so bad as this.

This was absolutely the worst thing you have experienced? - Yes.

And it was only by a miracle you came through? - Yes.

Leading the witness down a path designed to convince those listening that Koombana was doomed in such a system.

...

[Upjohn testimony p9]

... I think when you crossed the bar you felt more wind outside than inside? - Yes. There is always a fresher breeze outside.

Was there any sea on the bar? - No.

You saw the "Koombana" go out. Did she roll much? - I saw

her go, but there was no roll.

What did Harry Upjohn take the Court for and the people of Port Hedland?? A ground swell from the northwest striking the reduced column of water over the bar would have caused much turbulence. There was also a gale blowing from the NE.

There is another report that has been spread, about the

propeller beating the air? - I remarked to the Chief Officer

how well she looked and the propeller was well submerged.

There is no truth in the report then? - None whatever.

But he contradicted himself by stating that the propeller needed 18' to be fully submerged and by his own reckoning Koombana departed Port Hedland with a draft aft of 16'6. But no one challenged this...

By his calculation of draft of 16'6 cleverly Koombana's propeller would have been submerged, but just. By the Harbourmaster's, absolutely NOT, by 6 inches.

MR. DOWLEY. In the papers there was a remark of Captain Allen saying he

would be lucky to get to Broome by Saturday? - I did not

hear him say so.

It would be very surprising if Captain Upjohn admitted to hearing this statement and having to elaborate.

MR. MOSS. How long would it take in the ordinary course? - About 24 or

25 hours.

MR. DOWLEY. He should have got there on Thursday? - Yes.

MR. MOSS. When you were searching for the wreckage of the "Koombana" did you notice any oily substance floating on the surface? - Yes.

Please tell the Court? - It was in latitude 19.11 and 119.25 E.

What distance would that be off Bedout Island? - About 27 or 28

miles - I cannot say which.

Did you take any samples of this oily substance? - Yes. Two or

three dozen bottles.

What depth was there at this place? - 30 or 35 fathoms.

Did you see any trace of the vessel in that depth? There would be nothing to indicate that the Koombana or any other vessel would be there?

Note the choice of negative words insinuating no correlation between the oil and a sunken vessel. 

However:

- It was getting dark and it looked like the outline of a vessel. The Chief Officer said "It must be one of her decks," I said "No, the decks would not look like that." I could see no more.

The engines were stopped and we drifted for about 4 miles.

Why would Captain Upjohn have stopped his engines and drifted for 4 miles? In order to establish the current speed, direction and effect of wind on the drift? Hence to be able to establish the accuracy of the position of the find more accurately in terms of calculated dead reckoning.

What was the stuff in the bottles? - Oily, greasy water.

Have you any idea as to how that came there? - It looked as if

it came from a wreck.

It does not come any plainer than this. Captain Upjohn believed that this was the location of wreck of the RMS Koombana.

see:

https://koombanarevisited.blogspot.com/2020/02/coordinates-conclusion.html

[Upjohn testimony p10]

There would be stuff on the ship to make this? - Yes.

Where are those bottles? - At the Company's office.

We will produce these if desired.

There is no reference in the Inquiry transcripts about 'producing' the bottles. Either the Court did not agree with Captain Upjohn or the results were too close to the truth for comfort and presentation.

MR. DOWLEY. You saw this at dusk? - Yes.

MR. MOSS. When you went out from Broome to make this search, was it a

careful search in every way? - Yes.

Did you land anyone on Bedout Island? - Yes, the Chief Officer

and a party.

You searched with every care in the vicinity where you found

this wreckage? - Yes.

Was there any wreckage about then? - Yes, an awning spar and

one of the doors.

What difference in distance did you find any other pieces? -

There was a difference of as much as 20 miles.

Puzzling statement. According to the records Upjohn's wreckage was found in a collection 20 miles north of Bedout and the oil patch and wreckage 20 miles to the east of that point.

...

MR. DOWLEY. ...

You say that this is the "Koombana's" door. Would it have been

possible for it to have been washed off before the boat sank? -

It is quite possible.

...

An interesting question. Mr. Dowley is, again, leading the witness down the path of cyclone hurricane force wind damage rather than a force of solid water as the ship went down.

-:- 1 -:-

HARRY UPJOHN - Recalled.

(Official Log-Book put in).

THE CROWN

PROSECUTOR. This is your official log-book, in use on the 20th March? - Yes.

Whose entry is this: "Strong N.E.Breeze and cloudy"

Mr Crossley's? - Yes.

Is it all in the same writing? - Yes, it is not my writing.

No doubt distancing himself from the entry.

Can you give an explanation of the barometer at noon being

28.83? - The ship is provided with two barometers - one is

more valuable than the other and is kept in the Commander's

room because it is nice room and not too warm. The Chart

room is not a fit place to house this barometer. The other

barometer is in the chart room for the use of the officers.

It is on the low side and not a good instrument. When I said

the reading of the barometer was 29.50 it was the reading

of the barometer in my room which the officers have not access

to. During the cyclone, finding such a difference

between the glasses, I told one of the officers to take my

instrument up to the chart room because this was then the

better place to house it as it might have been smashed to

pieces, my room being on the lower deck.

That reading on the 20th March was by the barometer in the

chart room? - Yes, it is on the low side and an inferior

instrument to mine.

My feeling is that Captain Upjohn was ducking the insinuations that he ignored a barometer warning, cavalierly encouraging a reluctant Captain Allen to do the same. His explanation was elaborate to say the least.

Who can tell us about the instrument in the chart room? - The

Chief Officer.

What difference was there between the barometer in the chart

room and the one in your room? - I do not know. A

tremendous difference.

A contradiction in terms. He 'did not know' but somehow it was a 'tremendous difference'. 

Captain Upjohn was a terrible witness who blurred facts to justify departing Hedland that fateful day, encouraging Captain Allen to do the same; passing criticism about Captain Allen's decision to depart with empty tanks, and yet giving fake evidence that Koombana did not roll going over the bar with propeller well submerged; 'playing along' with the Court's (and owners') efforts to make the cyclone the central causative factor for the disaster; and making no suggestion to the Court to drag the vicinity of the oil patch with a wire to locate the wreck of Koombana, 130 miles from the centre of the cyclone.

It was a whitewash.

...

http://koombanadays.com/ch14/src/ct/kd14ct001.html