The West Australian, 4 June, 1912.
The barometer is the seaman's
guide as to the state of the weather. All
we have is that during the day of March
20 last the wind was blowing a fresh
breeze from the northeast, and the weather
was a bit overcast and dirty, but Captain
Upjohn and Captain Allen in conversation
decided there was nothing in it and neither
of them expected to encounter such a blow
as is described in the s.s. Bullarra's log book
as a howling hurricane, a hurricane which
apparently has totally engulfed the
s.s. Koombana and which, according to Captain
Upjohn's evidence, the s.s. Bullarra only
survived through a miracle.
From past experience I can say that the
barometer must have indicated the approach
of this cyclone, and that being so, I consider
it was wrong to put to sea under these
circumstances. If the captain was prepared
to face the storm I think it would have been
simple humanity to give the passengers
warning of the danger and the opportunity
of landing at Port Hedland. I noticed in
one of the reports from Port Hedland it
said: "Captain Allen seemed very anxious.."
He said that when he crossed the outer
bank he would fill the ballast tanks. I do
not think he ever got the chance to do that.
The next point is, we are told that her
"stability was shown to be entirely
satisfactory." under ordinary circumstances
I readily agree with that, but from past
experiences it must be remembered that
abnormal conditions of cyclones may he
expected at any time between December and
April on the Nor'-West coast. What is
perfectly safe under normal conditions becomes
absolutely unsafe when a vessel has to
encounter the full force of a terrific hurricane,
with the top hamper of some of our modern
steamers. In a sailing vessel one has a
chance even if light, they can run before
the wind under bare poles, and be safe. Not
so with the new steamers. Deck cabins can
not be reefed. If they take the full force
of the wind on their broadsides it is all over
in a few minutes. Their only chance is to
run before the gale, but we find that the
Koombana when last seen was steaming
right into the north-east gale.
Referring again to the report from Port
Hedland, of April 3, "The Koombana left
the port at half-past 10 o'clock on March 20,
with propeller beating out of the water.
When passing the entrance to the harbour
she rolled deeply. That item taken in
conjunction with the statement of the Court.
"She sailed from Port Hedland on March
20, at about 10.20 o'clock a.m., drawing 19ft.
aft and about 12ft. forward in excellent trim,
with her propeller well submerged," does not
agree, but probably what the report from
Port Hedland intended to convey is that the
propeller was occasionally out of water. That
might be accounted for as the steamer was
evidently light, and would pitch, as she
was drawing only 12ft. forward and 19ft.
aft. (incorrect)
If with that draught she had
50ft of top hamper, in other words, a wall
resistance to the wind, roughly about 300ft.
long and 50ft. deep, with only an average
hold on the water of, say, 15ft. 6in., I do not
see how she could possibly stand up against
the terrific force of a wind blowing at front
75 to 100 miles an hour, if it caught her on
her beam. In such circumstances a vessel
like that would simply roll over, as we see
toy boats roll over, and sink. I am very
much afraid that is what really happened to
the Koombana.
A very dear old friend of mine, Mr. Fred.
W. B. Clinch, who leaves a wife and six
young children, and who was lost in this
vessel, told his brother Alfred, in Fremantle.
prior to the sailing of the Koombana, that
he did not like the vessel he thought there
was too much top hamper, too much
resistance in the event of meeting a willy-willy.
Poor fellow, it, is very sad that he, and so
many others, should be taken thus suddenly
from their friends and relations. It is evident
poor Fred Clinch's fears have been justified.
The past cannot be rectified, but I think
we should profit by the sad experience of the
loss of the Koombana for the future, and I
give the points of my view of the matter
with all due deference:--(1) That vessels for
the Nor'-West with much top hamper are
unfitted for the work; (2) that closer attention
is required of master mariners to the warnings
by the barometer: (3) that with a low barometer,
especially between December and April, a
steamer should not attempt to face a gale or
hurricane on the North West coast; (4) it is
better to remain in port, anchored and steaming
up to the anchor than to face the gale; (5) that a
light vessel has no chance in a willy-willy except
she can run before the wind: a well-ballasted
vessel stands the best chance of surviving
in a hurricane.-Yours, etc.,
Guildford, May 18. P. A. GUGERI.
Apart from the fact that Koombana was drawing 16 ft. aft., 11 ft. forward, in exceptionally light condition, with the propeller clearly beating out of the water (16.5 ft.) and no proof whatsoever that she was caught in the centre of the cyclone, this commentary was insightful.
Ballasting was essential in steamers such as Koombana, and the writer referred to the unlikelihood of the ballast tanks having been (adequately) filled ----> disaster.
Late March is the time of year when cyclones are anticipated along the Nor'West coast, and the writer raised the important point that steamers with significant top hampers (i.e. inherently top heavy) were not appropriate for such a coast and in particular during late summer. One could extend the argument to the simple fact that a large steamer such as Koombana, struggling to clear the outer bar under the best of spring tide circumstances, was definitely not appropriate for servicing Port Hedland - period!
courtesy Trove.
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