Three days after Koombana should have arrived at Broome information was minimal and speculation rife due to a break in the telegraph line. It was incorrectly assumed that Port Hedland was badly hit.
The following gives an impression of initial reaction to the overdue Koombana:
"Koombana now 72 hours overdue from Hedland. Intense anxiety. Oldest residents think serious accident. Consider absolutely necessary despatch steamer search promptly."
Common sense prevailed when it came to 'oldest residents' and an immediate search was crucial. It was only until very late on day five, under the leadership of Captain Dalziel, that the luggers, McClennan and Mina with schooner Muriel set out from Broome in search of the missing steamer.
Mr. Moxon, manager of the Western Australia branch of Adelaide Steamship Company, had a different approach, and one that mirrored the Lunds' response to the missing SS Waratah in 1909:
"he felt no anxiety for the safety of the vessel, as Captain Allen, the officer in charge, is a very careful and cautious master, and would no doubt keep well out to sea." "has no doubt that that course has been adopted on this occasion, and that that is the cause of the delay in arriving at Broome, an opinion in which Captain Irvine, the Chief Harbour Master concurs. Mr. Moxon hopes this morning to hear definitely of the safety of the steamer."
This sanguine statement belied the fact that Koombana carried a wireless installation which should have communicated position and problems within the 3 day time frame, unless serious damage had been sustained and which, naturally, would contradict the word 'safety'.
It is also interesting to note at this very early juncture that Captain Irvine was on the 'same page' as Mr. Moxon. This was to play out in full at the Marine Court of Inquiry.
The following is an interesting and enlightening comment on the phenomenon of cyclones in the Northwest:
"cyclones are liable to occur in the Indian Ocean between the months of December and April. They have been experienced at times along the whole of the Nor'-West coast between Port Essington and Sharks Bay. In December they most frequently occur along the northern portion of the Nor'-West coast, and when as far south as Sharks Bay they usually happen towards the end of the cyclone season, namely, March. It is seldom that a year passes without one of these cyclonic storms being experienced. The space over which they have been known to expand themselves varies from 20 to 30 miles to more than 100 miles in diameter."
Conforming to the described pattern, the cyclone off Balla Balla occurred in late March of 1912, further down the Nor'West coast. Mr. S.R.P. Stevens, acting divisional officer of the Commonwealth Weather Bureau, at the time of the Balla Balla cyclone, confirmed that the diameter was probably 90 miles.
It was common practice to 'put to sea' if caught in such conditions, The Norwegian barque Glenbank, lost a year previously:
"Seeing that she would not hold to her anchors, her captain decided to put to sea. That night she was scurrying away from the coast under a minimum of canvas, when she struck the Legendre Reef and foundered."
The following gives an impression of initial reaction to the overdue Koombana:
"Koombana now 72 hours overdue from Hedland. Intense anxiety. Oldest residents think serious accident. Consider absolutely necessary despatch steamer search promptly."
Common sense prevailed when it came to 'oldest residents' and an immediate search was crucial. It was only until very late on day five, under the leadership of Captain Dalziel, that the luggers, McClennan and Mina with schooner Muriel set out from Broome in search of the missing steamer.
Mr. Moxon, manager of the Western Australia branch of Adelaide Steamship Company, had a different approach, and one that mirrored the Lunds' response to the missing SS Waratah in 1909:
"he felt no anxiety for the safety of the vessel, as Captain Allen, the officer in charge, is a very careful and cautious master, and would no doubt keep well out to sea." "has no doubt that that course has been adopted on this occasion, and that that is the cause of the delay in arriving at Broome, an opinion in which Captain Irvine, the Chief Harbour Master concurs. Mr. Moxon hopes this morning to hear definitely of the safety of the steamer."
This sanguine statement belied the fact that Koombana carried a wireless installation which should have communicated position and problems within the 3 day time frame, unless serious damage had been sustained and which, naturally, would contradict the word 'safety'.
It is also interesting to note at this very early juncture that Captain Irvine was on the 'same page' as Mr. Moxon. This was to play out in full at the Marine Court of Inquiry.
The following is an interesting and enlightening comment on the phenomenon of cyclones in the Northwest:
"cyclones are liable to occur in the Indian Ocean between the months of December and April. They have been experienced at times along the whole of the Nor'-West coast between Port Essington and Sharks Bay. In December they most frequently occur along the northern portion of the Nor'-West coast, and when as far south as Sharks Bay they usually happen towards the end of the cyclone season, namely, March. It is seldom that a year passes without one of these cyclonic storms being experienced. The space over which they have been known to expand themselves varies from 20 to 30 miles to more than 100 miles in diameter."
Conforming to the described pattern, the cyclone off Balla Balla occurred in late March of 1912, further down the Nor'West coast. Mr. S.R.P. Stevens, acting divisional officer of the Commonwealth Weather Bureau, at the time of the Balla Balla cyclone, confirmed that the diameter was probably 90 miles.
It was common practice to 'put to sea' if caught in such conditions, The Norwegian barque Glenbank, lost a year previously:
"Seeing that she would not hold to her anchors, her captain decided to put to sea. That night she was scurrying away from the coast under a minimum of canvas, when she struck the Legendre Reef and foundered."
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| courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066 |
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| note extent of Mr. Stevens' cyclone and Legendre Island - courtesy Google Earth |
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