THE MYSTERY OF BEDOUT LIGHT.

We know from posts to date that the Bedout light was out from between 13 and 15 March until it was 're-lit' by wharfinger Dalziel, 6 April, as many as 24 days later. In the interim Koombana had foundered. Captain Upjohn noted 27 March that the light was out. However, a cryptic telegram (see below) has come to hand which implies that Bedout light was burning 25 March. This does not make sense!!!! Had there been an unrecorded attempt to relight Bedout after 15 March, but which failed again by 27 March?? The implication, if the details of the telegram are true, that Bedout could have been lit when Koombana made her run for Broome. It does, however, seem improbable.

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia. Series 2357, cons 066