FACT OR FICTION?

There is controversy surrounding the extent and location of the Balla Balla Cyclone morning of 20 March, 1912. I have covered this subject extensively during the course of the blog but in summary, the cyclone was reported by the official meteorological bureau of the time to be roughly 90 miles in diameter (centre, Depuch / Balla Balla), approaching the coast from the north northwest; roughly 100 miles northwest of Port Hedland 8 a.m. and making landfall after 4 pm that afternoon. Eye witnesses on board Bullarra off Port Hedland saw evidence of the cyclone on the horizon to the southwest in which direction they were headed. Koombana was headed northeast, away from the cyclone as depicted. Opinion exists that the cyclone was directly in Koombana's path, in the vicinity of Bedout Island. This is not substantiated. One of the points raised in favour of this argument is based on a period report (see below) which refers to 'dead and maimed birds' littering Bedout Island, proof therefore, that the cyclone battered the island. This does not hold up given all period reports.

The West Australian, Perth, 13 April, 1912.

UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCHES.

Captain Dalziel, the harbourmaster at

Broome, who was in charge of the search

party organised by the resident magistrate

and the Mayor, arrived back during the

week. In an interview he said ....

He zigzagged down to Bedout Island by 16

mile tacks, and sighted the island in the

forenoon of April 3. 

....and arrived at Port Hedland 

at 9 p.m. on the 4th inst..... 

After leaving Port Hedland at 2 p.m. on the 

5th inst. (April) he proceeded to Bedout Island, which 

was thoroughly searched, but no trace of wreckage 

of any description was found. It had been reported 

earlier that the island showed no sign of having been 

visited by a storm, but he was of opinion, from the 

number of dead and maimed birds, that there was 

ample evidence of a severe gale.

Captain Dalziel (official):

'After wiring report to you (Chief Harbour Master Irvine) I left Port Hedland at 2 p.m. on April 5th and proceeded to Bedout Island. I landed on the island at noon, April 6th and found the light extinguished, but evidently in good order. To gain admittance I had to remove one of the larger panes of glass in the outer lantern. The lamp inside was in apparently thorough order and the automatic gear working satisfactorily. I put a match to the jets and they lit immediately. I then replaced the pane of glass and made a thorough search of the island but found no trace of wreckage of any description. I then got under weigh at about 8 p.m..' 

NO mention whatsoever of 'dead and maimed birds'.

courtesy: series 2357, cons 066

Bullarra, 27 March:

"At half-past 9 o'clock the same night the 

Bullarra was off Bedout Island. The light 

there was not burning. At 5.30 the next 

morning the chief officer was sent ashore, 

and he searched and found no trace of 

wreckage. The light house is unattended. 

The glass was found to be not encrusted 

which showed that the island did not meet 

the full force of the gale."

At 9.30 p:m. the Premier (Mr. Scaddan)

received the following cable message from

the resident magistrate at Broome:--"Bullarra 

arrived here at 4 p.m. Captain reports having 

left Hedland on March 27 at 2 p.m., and 

circumnavigated Little Turtle Island; no trace 

Koombana. The chief officer landed at Big Turtle 

Island at 3 p.m.: no trace. Reached Bedout 

Island at 9.40 p.m. Light out. Anchored and 

landed 5.30 a.m.; searched island and adjacent

rocks, but no traces whatever. Do not think 

blow was severe at Bedout. The glass in the 

lighthouse is not crusted, and there are no 

indications of a disturbance."

Captain Mills, Minderoo:

"and anchored for the night off Cape Preston, weighted and proceeded at daylight 30th, and examined all the islands and passages from Cape Preston to Cossack where arrival at 1.45 pm, 30th. During the whole of our search we saw nothing and from the looks of the islands the storm does not appear to have reached that far west."

courtesy series 2357, cons 066

Why distortion of the truth in the above reported (alleged) interview? Koombana missing without trace was sensational news and references to 'dead and maimed birds' played into the hysteria of destruction by a cyclone.

https://koombanarevisited.blogspot.com/2019/08/rattus-rattus.html

https://koombanarevisited.blogspot.com/2019/09/150-ft-bilge-section.html

courtesy Trove and Google Earth.