Sunday Times, Perth, 4 April, 1909.
THE KOOMBANA KINK
Leaky Boats and Oilless Lamps
A rather serious allegation is made by
a passenger on the steamer Koombana
which was recently stranded on a sand-
bank in Shark's Bay. Our informant states
that when the vessel went aground a
dinghy was lowered to take soundings,
but as soon as it touched water it leaked
badly. Then the motor boat was got out,
but it also leaked badly. ln each case a
man was kept busy baling, and we are
asked to imagine what would have
happened if it had been necessary to fill
these craft with passengers. Supposing
the Koombana had been wrecked, and
leaky boats were the only means of saving
the 60 passengers, what chance would
they have had?
A sobering thought and a subject that was not explored in any meaningful detail at the Inquiry.
courtesy Trove.
No comments:
Post a Comment