The West Australian, 31 March, 1913.
GALE AT PORT HEDLAND.
HEAVY RAINS.
Port Hedland, March 30.
The heavy rains which extended over a
large area, ceased yesterday morning.
During the last three days 1,071 points
fell at Port Hedland, Boodarrie had nearly
seven inches, Pippingarra 650 points,
Poondina nine inches, Mundabullangana
nine inches, Marble Bar 55 points, and
Condon 10 inches. The train due here on
Thursday has not yet arrived, and is not
expected for two or three days.
The steamer Bullarra lay outside Port
Hedland for 37 hours. The captain
considered that the blow was as severe as
that of last year. It was impossible to stand
up on the deck of the vessel, and he had
two anchors down 90 fathoms and 110
fathoms, and steamed up to them at three
quarter speed, but could make no headway.
The hatches were battened down. The engines
stopped once and he was preparing to put up
sails when the gale moderated.
He did not expect to see Port Hedland standing,
and thought that the steamer Western Australia,
which had been in port since Wednesday, would
be among the mangroves. The blow was not so
severe at Port Hedland as that of last year, and
no damage was done. The gale blew furiously
for just about 14 hours.
This report provides us with an important clue. When Captains Upjohn and Allen met for the last time before departing Port Hedland, 20 March, 1912, it was alleged that Captain Upjohn encouraged Captain Allen to depart, despite the latter's concerns about the barometer. Captain Upjohn's actions mirrored his comments; 'did not expect to see Port Hedland standing' and 'ending up in the mangroves'. Ironically Koombana like Western Australia would have been unscathed had she remained in port that tragic Wednesday.
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| courtesy National Maritime Museum. |
