SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

RMS Koombana - courtesy Wikipedia

The Evening Star, 27 March, 1912.

THE MISSING KOOMBANA

NO TIDINGS YET RECEIVED

VESSEL SHOWING DISTRESS SIGNALS OFF PORT HEDLAND

AN OPTIMISTIC OPINION BY A CAPTAIN

VESSEL FLYING DISTRESS SIGNALS

OUT FROM PORT HEDLAND.

BELIEVED TO BE THE BULLARA.

FREMANTLE, 2 o'clock.

Information came to the Adelaide

Steamship Company's office this morning

which may throw some light on

the disappearance of the Koombana.

Broome cables that communication

has at last been established by a line-

man with a field instrument with a

point three miles on the Broome side

of Port Hedland.

This man reports that there is a

steamer outside with funnel gone and

no decking, flying signals of distress. 

While there is "a great deal of hope

conveyed by this message, it must "not

be mistaken to mean that the vessel in

question is the Koombana." 

It may, in all probability, be the

Bullarra. The latter boat left Cossack

last night for Hedland, and should

have arrived there this morning. During

her encounter "with the willy willy

before leaving Cossack she lost her

funnel.

It is hard, however, to understand

why she is flying signals of distress,

as she could not have had any severe

weather. 

Between Cossack and Hedland

after the cyclone.

Perhaps the lineman is mistaken,

and the signals are not those of distress,

but are merely an attempt by

the Bullarra to find out by means of

flags what is the condition of Port

Hedland harbor.

Port Hedland and Bedout Island were 

not damaged by the Balla Balla Cyclone.

It is generally considered in shipping

circles here that the vessel outside

is not the Koombana, but the Bullarra,

as it is not considered likely that the

Koombana's decking would be carried away.

Interesting final comment referring perhaps to a 'newer' ship. Also, like Yongala, Kombana's funnel was built into the superstructure. If anything it might have served as a lever 'pulling' the ship over in her final death throes.

"A feature is her double-cased funnel with a bonnet cap."

"Her funnel was peculiar

having been built into the ship,

it would have stood alone even if

the guides had been blown away."

SS Bullarra - courtesy Ships Nostalgia

courtesy Trove.