A LAYMAN'S VIEW.

 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.

EXTENT OF FRUITLESS SEARCHES.

The most powerful argument against the Koombana being destroyed by the cyclone must surely relate to the discovery of wreckage more than 10 days after the disaster. If the cyclone had been responsible for the destruction of the steamer, surely there would have been plenty of wreckage and cargo immediately apparent after 20 March? As the following post outlines, searches during the initial 10 days were extensive, but FRUITLESS.

The West Australian, 01 April, 1912. 

THE FAILURE OF THE

SHORE SEARCH.

A DEEP SEA MATTER.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. W. E. MOXON.

Mr. Moxon made the following statement:

"Captain Mills has reported that the s.s.

Minderoo from Thursday to Saturday last,

shaped a course taking her on the western

and eastern side of Barrow Island, and the

Montebello Group, and then went round 

Ritchie reef searching thoroughly there. 

Shell and Stewart Islands were visited before 

she proceeded to Cossack via the Dampier 

Archipelago, taking in Mermaid, Rosemary, 

Eaglehawk, Legendre, and Delamori Islands 

en route, without finding any trace of the 

Koombana after a most exhaustive and thorough 

search.

The Bullarra from Sampson to Hedland, 

commencing on Tuesday last, searched the 

Turtle Islands, thence to Bedout Island, where she

landed a search party. Here I might men-

tion they found that the new automatic light

had been extinguished. This is a matter

to which the authorities will give careful con-

sideration. The Amphinome Shoals were

visited, and a course shaped along the Eighty

Mile Beach, taking in La Grange Bay and

Roebuck Bay. This also produced no trace of

the missing liner. Close and wide the

luggers have been searching from Roebuck

Bay round the Amphinone Shoals to Port

Hedland, and we understand that Captain

Parkes' luggers have been searching from

Monte Bellos to Cossack. In addition, lug-

gers have searched Depuch Island, in the

neighbourhood of Cossack and Hedland

without avail. There is no report at present

from the lugger that visited Rowley Shoals,

but this, in view of the Gorgon's report, is

negligible. The Gorgon arrived at Broome

this morning, her instructions having been

to search the Rowley Shoals with Impereiuse,

Clark, and Mermaid reefs. She signalled this

morning that her search had been thorough,

but no trace of the Koombana had been

seen. It will, therefore, be seen that the

whole of the coast from Barrow and Monte

Bello Islands has been searched to Broome

and across from Broome to Rowley Shoals

inclusive. 

The Moira should have passed

down by this time on her trip to Fremantle,

taking in the Lacepede Islands, Rowley

Shoals, and west of Ritchie Reef, but no

report will be received from her, it may be

assumed, unless she has something of an

urgent nature to communicate before her

arrival at Fremantle. It will be remembered

that the Moira encountered the cyclone a

hundred miles to the north-west of Port 

Hedland bound to Wyndham. 

An important reminder that the Moira encountered the cyclone 100 miles NW of Port Hedland at 8 a.m. 20 March. This illustrates that the cyclone, 90 miles in diameter (Inquiry), was to the northwest, not north of Port Hedland on the day of the disaster, and from this position the cyclone moved in a 'southerly' direction (having curved round) towards Balla Balla.

The coast search, it will be seen, has been 

absolutely fruitless, except in so far as the 

reports that no trace of the vessel can be found.

Harbour and Light Department, Western Australia (Fremantle)

Broome: 12 April, 1912.

Addressed to The Chief Harbour Master, Fremantle

Sir,

Report on search for R.M.S. Koombana (note official Royal Mail Ship title). 

At the request of the District Magistrate and in accordance with your cablegram I organised a search for the R.M.S. Koombana.

I chartered the lugger McLlennan and put Captain White in charge with orders to proceed along the coast, searching the 80 Mile Beach and the shoals up to Bedout Island and thence into Port Hedland. I also got the lugger Mina, which with Captain Bennie in charge was ordered to proceed to a point 60 miles north of Bedout Island, then down to the east of the island and into Port Hedland.

I took the schooner Muriel and proceeded to Rowley Shoals and then zigzagged into Port Hedland.

We got away on the evening of March 25th and I reached Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals) on March 29th. I proceeded along the south of the Reef and up the East side to the North End and then down to Sandy Island Clarke Reef. Same date I spoke S.S. Gorgon, who reported having searched Impereuse Reef and saw nothing.

I then proceeded across the North of Clarke Reef and down the East side of Impereuse Reef. 

At 2.30 pm on March 31st I spoke S.S. Moira who reported having also searched the shoals and sighted nothing.

I zigzagged down marking 16 mile tacks and picked up Bedout Lighthouse on the forenoon of April 3rd.

I had a flat calm all day and at 4 pm sighted smoke to the N.E.. This turned out to be S.S. Bullarra. I boarded her at 6 pm and Captain Upjohn reported as per my wire from Port Hedland.

I then proceeded to the South of Bedout Island and searched round Turtle Island and thence into Port Hedland arriving there at 9 pm on April 4th.

Captains White and Bennie were in Port Hedland, and being satisfied that we could do nothing further, I instructed them to return to Broome........


Oswald Dalziel.

series 2357, cons 066

series 2357, cons 066

series 2357, cons 066

30th March

"Bedout, Amphinome thoroughly scoured luggers resultless."
"Luggers searching coast close and wide. Nothing reported."

SS Bullarra:

"Wednesday (27th) circumnavigation Little Turtle. No trace Koombana."
"Second Officer and party landed Big Turtle. No trace."
"After dark arrive Bedout position by observation."

Thursday:

"Chief Officer and party searched the island and adjacent rocks. No trace whatever."
"Made a detour course to Broome via the beach. Spoke several luggers. No trace whatever."

By 30 March the vast bulk of Koombana wreckage had yet to materialize.

series 2357, cons 066

and the Minderoo's initial comprehensive search as per document:

Report, March 30th (Saturday)

"...anchored at 9 pm (28th, Thursday) at entrance Mary Anne Passage waiting daylight, weighed and proceeded at 5.50 am, 29th and searched the whole of the East side of Barrow Shoals and Island also Monte Bellos Islands and Richie Reef; from there steered 25 miles east and when south to Sholl Island, examined the neighbourhood of Sholl Island and then on to Stewart and Steamboa Islands, around the McLennand bank 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."

series 2357, cons 066

Once wreckage became evident, more than 10 days after the disaster, the Bedout Island vicinity was extensively awash with flotsam - some distance from the track and extent of the Balla Balla Cyclone.

Note Captain Mills, Minderoo:

'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."

This supports meteorological report that the Balla Balla Cyclone was only about 90 miles in diameter.

The following document outlines in more detail the lugger Mina search:

series 2357, cons 066

The following document outlines in more detail the lugger McLlennan search:

series 2357, cons 066

series 2357, cons 066

series 2357. cons 066

27 March, winds were light NW. By 31 March, winds had shifted to SSW; 6 April, SSE and 7 April SE, persisting into 8 April.

Amphinome Shoals surrounded by 'banks' in 2 to 2.5 fathoms - 12-15 ft.; 3.6-4.5 m. Koombana drew 16 ft. aft which means that she would have run aground in this vicinity.

There can be no denying the extent of initial discoveries - NOTHING! 

A 'delayed' release of flotsam from a wreck 'breaking up in deep water', rather than battered to pieces by the cyclone.

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia; Google Earth.

THE BEDOUT ISLAND THREAT.

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.

'FOUL GROUND'.

Barrier Miner, 3 April, 1912.

BEDOUT ISLAND.

Bedout Island, where the wreckage

was found, is almost on the direct

route of steamers travelling between

Port Hedland and Broome, being a

few miles to the east of the regular

"track." Vessels steer wide of the

presence of "foul ground" there. The

Amphinome Shoals lie between 

Bedout Island and the Mainland. The 

fact that the wreckage was not discovered

earlier might have been on account of

the steamer having foundered in deep

water, and did not break up sufficiently

to release much wreckage until the

last few days.

Entirely in keeping with the 'oil patch' and wreckage drift pattern, supporting my belief that Koombana will be found within a reasonable distance of the 27.5 mile mark.