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| A small island surrounded by extensive dangers. |
Empire, Sydney, 3 August, 1864.
During this period two incidents only call for especial
remark : ( 1) a visit to Bedout Island and (2) the
discovery of a dangerous reef.
The visit to Bedout Island was resolved upon, in
consequence of adverse winds. From careful observation's made,
—the position of the highest land seems to be in longitude
E 118 degrees 56 minutes 20 second latitude S. 19
degrees 40 minutes 45 seconds; according to the charts,
longitude E. 119 degrees 0 minutes 0 seconds latitude 19
degrees 36 minutes 20 seconds ; according to Norris's list,
longitude E 118 degrees 52 minutes 0 seconds, latitude S
19 degrees 29 minutes 0 seconds. These data show an
extreme difference in the position of the island amounting to
8 minutes of longitude and 11 of latitude. Ships sailing in
this direction therefore, should approach the island cautiously.
The island is about a mile in length ; its mean
breadth is half a mile. It appears to be formed as islands
are ritually formed in the centre of circular coral reefs or
atolls ; it is merely a heap of coral sand piled up upon a
sand-stone point of ancient elevation, whose dip is about 15
degrees to the westward. This has gradually become
clothed with soil capable of supporting a coarse and stunted
vegetation. The reef forming the basis of the island is a
trappean sand-stone composed of particles derived from the
decomposition of green-stones and basalts, consisting chiefly
of feldspar and hornblende grains, devoid of external
crystalline form, with which are mingled quartzose grains and
mica flakes derived from other sources. The diameter of
the encircling reef is about three miles ; the space between
the reef and the island is not more than 8 or 7 feet below
low-water mark, in any place. There was no water upon
the island. The anchorage three miles to the southward
of Bedout Island, in six fathoms at low water, is good. High
tide at fall and change of the moon occurs at 10.50 a.m.
Rise of tide (spring) 24 feet. The island is at present the
resort of pelicans and turtles.
I have plotted the three quoted coordinates, in order, 1; 2; 3. It is alarming the spread of distance and direction from the actual island. 1 = 10.8 miles; 2 = 5.72 miles; 3 = 14.5 miles!!!
It was not an easy task establishing where Bedout was using basic instrumentation! The Light was a necessity as were sailing instructions. It was only a matter of time before a steamer ran aground, and in this case, Bullarra:
NAVIGA.TION ACT, 1904. Harbour and Light Department, 2905/14. Fremantle, 4th September, 1914. THE following is the decision of the Court of Marine Inquiry, held at Fremantle before the Resident Magistrate (Mr. E. P. Dowley), Captain .J. Roxworthy, and Thos. E. Cutler, Assessors, into the circumstances attending charge of negligence in the navigation of the s.s. "Bullarra" on the 24th August, 1914. G. J. SINCLAIR, Secretary Navigation Act. Finding of the Com. The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances attending above-mentioned negligence, finds that the Master of the s.s. "Bullarra" (Captain W. F. Lewis) was guilty of negligence in the navigation of the ship in approaching Bedout Island, on the night of the 24th August, 1914, and that such negligent navigation caused the ship to strike on a reef close to the island. For such negligent navigation he is severely reprimanded, and is ordered to pay the costs of this inquiry, which are allowed at three guineas sterling. Dated this 4th day of September, 1914. E. P. DOWLEY, Magistrate of the Local Court, Fremantle. We concur in the above finding: THOS. E. CUTLER, JOHN FOXWORTHY, Nautical Assessors.
(Government gazette, Western Australia - 1914)
Bedout Island wrecks.
Cutter, 1890.
https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?53600
Don Clarence, 1907.
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?53766
Emma, schooner, 1867
North Star, whaler, 399 tons, 1856
The light was to fail again, but in less disastrous circumstances:
Northern Times 25 January, 1913.
BEDOUT ISLAND
UNTENDED LIGHT FAILS AGAIN.
Broome, Jan. "22.
The captain of the steamer Minderoo
reported that, when passing Bedout
Island on Tuesday night he was unable
to discern any light. The harbor
authorities at Broome, Port Hedland,
and Onslow have been advised to warn
mariners.
The Daily News, Perth, 19 August, 1912.
BEDOUT ISLAND
AND ITS CHARTING
At the annual meeting of the Fremantle
Chamber of Commerce held last
Friday it was mentioned that the
committee had communicated with the
chief harbor master, stating that reports
had reached the chamber that Bedout
Island was inaccurately charted, and asking
whether he could have steps taken to
have the defect remedied.
A reply was received stating that Bedout
Island is correctly described in
the Australian Directory, vol. 3, and that
the charting is in accordance with same,
but the scale is small. The chief harbor
master stated that he would endeavor to
arrange for a larger plan, showing more
details.
This report appeared five months after the Koombana disaster and although Bedout Island was accurately charted in terms of coordinates it still caused some degree of 'confusion' for mariners which I do not believe was exclusively attributed to by the comment 'but the scale is small'. I believe there were greater challenges relating to the seabed iron ore bodies in the vicinity of the island which interfered with compass readings and hence navigation. I still believe that this factor was the primary reason for Captain Upjohn's inability to correlate his 'oil patch' coordinates with distance from Bedout Island.
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