WRECKAGE IDENTIFIED.

THE WRECKAGE IDENTIFIED.

The "West Australian"' of April 3 writes -

"For 15 months Captain Clark was chief

officer of the Koombana, and left in June,

1910, to take up his present position with

the Harbor Trust. On being acquainted

with the report by Captain Townley of the

Gorgon of the finding of a panelled door

25 miles west by north of Bedout Island,

he said he could positively identify the

wreckage as having belonged to the

Koombana. In his opinion this would be 

either the door leading from the chief steward's

room or from one of the pantries, or from

an entrance to the scullery leading to the 

cattle deck from the main saloon entrance.

These particular doors were dark on the

outside and painted white on the inside.

The studs referred to in the telegram were

used throughout the ship to prevent doors

from slamming (being covered with rubber

for that purpose). From the description

he had no hesitation in saying that the

wreckage belonged to the ill-fated steamer.

Regarding the position in which the

wreckage was found, Captain Clark stated

that it was evident the vessel had come to

grief some considerable distance to the

westward, and that the wreckage had been

borne landwards by the set of the tide,

which always follows on a severe blow in

the Nor'-West. Although he had never

experienced a cyclone in the Koombana,

he had gone through some very severe

blows, and undoubtedly she was the finest

little sea-boat he bad ever sailed in."

It is very interesting that Captain Clark insisted that it was 'evident that the vessel had come to grief some considerable distance to the westward' contrary to what captain Mills of the Minderoo and captain Townley of the Gorgon said with reference to the accident site being in the vicinity of Bedout Island. I believe he was trying to displace the site of Koombana foundering as far into the 'heart' of the cyclone as possible to justify her demise on the grounds of perils of the sea. 

How these mariners closed ranks in favour of the Adelaide Steamship Company!

courtesy Google Earth

courtesy Trove

MOIRA ACCOUNT.

The Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 27 March, 1912.

Captain Brett Ward, master of the

Moira, which reached Wyndham 

yesterday, forwarded the following 

cable message, via Broome, to the 

Premier :-

"We encountered cyclonic weather at 8 a.m. 

on the 20th, in latitude 19 20 deg. south,

and longitude 117 deg. east, 100 miles 

north-west of Hedland. The Moira was 

run before the storm in a westerly direction

about 150 miles. The storm roughly lasted 

21 hours, the wind gradually shifting from 

east and north-east to south-westerly.

The ship proceeded on her journey, 

passing 60 miles north-west of Rowley

Shoals (255 miles). The steamer Charon 

was near Liguliea reef at 7 a.m. on the 22nd, 

bound for Java. I consider the cyclone was 

more severe nearer the land than with us. 

We did not sight the Koombana."

The Moira encountered the cyclone 8 am, 20 March, approximately 69 n miles from the position where Bullarra encountered the inferior (bottom) aspect of the cyclone, 2 pm, 20 March . This was 7 hours prior and Moira 100 n miles northwest of Port Hedland. If she had been fitted with wireless Captain Ward could have warned both Koombana and Bullarra while anchored at Port Hedland !!

The interesting thing about the Moira account and conceptualized on the image below is that the steamer struck the 'inferior' aspect of the cyclone (wind from east), which was moving more south southeastward than southwestward (as I had imagined) and completely missed the steamer track Koombana would have taken from Port Hedland to Broome! Furthermore, the cyclone was moving roughly 11.1 knots until it approached landfall slowing down ---> stalling ? 

The image of the SS Moira, below, confirms yet another humble steamer which survived the cyclone which took Koombana to the bottom. She was a cargo steamer built, 1901, by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, for the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company (A.U.S.N.) - 2184 gross tons; 300 ft. in length and powered by a single triple expansion engine.

In fairness to Koombana the complexity of Moira's intersection with the cyclone suggests that she was blown to the west out of the worst of the system, which might explain why she survived and what's more, the influence of the cyclone extended considerably beyond the 50 mile radius, not in terms of a battering gale, but in terms of strong winds and heavy rain.

SS Moira - 1901 (courtesy wrecksite.eu)

courtesy Google Earth

courtesy Trove

LAST SPOKEN NORTHEAST OF BEDOUT ISLAND?

Sunday Times, Perth, 31 March, 1912.

The ill-fated steamer could not have sought

safety in the open sea, for the cyclone, veered 

round from E.N.E. to S.W., and would thus have 

been more likely to drive her towards the land. 

It would be a miracle if she had escaped seaward. 

Therefore, as she has not been found along the 

Ninety-Mile Beach or in La Grange Bay, we are

led to the terrible alternative that she was engulfed 

somewhere north-east of Bedout Island, where 

she was last spoken.

An interesting interpretation of the movement of the cyclone. Ninety-Mile beach is actually Eighty-Mile beach. 

Again relying on the accuracy of the press report it strikes me as odd that Koombana was 'spoken northeast of Bedout Island'. By whom and at what position?? This seems improbable, but one never knows....

However, a very powerful statement made that Koombana was likely to have been 'engulfed somewhere north-east of Bedout Island'. In my opinion, the very essence of the disaster.  

courtesy Google Earth

Light at Bedout Island - courtesy Ralph Meakins

courtesy Trove

CYCLONE MISSED BEDOUT ISLAND.

The West Australian, Saturday 30 March, 1912.

THE KOOMBANA,

NO TRACES DISCOVERED.

BULLARRA'S RETURN.

A DEPRESSING REPORT

MINDEROO DUE TO-DAY

Any hope of the Bullarra's first search for

the Koombana being successful was crushed

last night, when advices were received that

the steamer reached Broome at 4 o'clock 

yesterday and signalled to the lighthouse a

significant three-word message, "No news

Koombana." The Bullarra searched the Bedout 

and Turtle islands, and the waters on route to 

Broome, where there was held to be a possibility 

of the Koombana, if still on the water, being found. 

All day her arrival was anxiously awaited, and when

late in the afternoon the report of the captain was 

made known hope was as good as abandoned in 

regard to the missing steamer and her passengers 

and crew having escaped the terrible fate of the 

Yongala, the Waratah, and many another ship which 

has gone down to the sea, never to be heard of again.

At 9.30 p:m. the Premier (Mr. Scaddan)

received the following cable message from

the resident magistrate at Broome:--"Bullarra 

arrived here at 4 p.m. Captain reports having 

left Hedland on March 27 at 2 p.m., and 

circumnavigated Little Turtle Island; no trace 

Koombana. The chief officer landed at Big Turtle 

Island at 3 p.m.: no trace. Reached Bedout 

Island at 9.40 p.m. Light out. Anchored and 

landed 5.30 a.m.; searched island and adjacent

rocks, but no traces whatever. Do not think 

blow was severe at Bedout. The glass in the 

lighthouse is not crusted, and there are no 

indications of a disturbance. Made a detour 

across to Broome via the beach, but not the 

slightest trace. Spoke to several luggers."

As we know thus far, most of the Koombana wreckage was discovered north of Bedout Island. It is extraordinary that Captain Upjohn reported no signs of disturbance at Bedout Island, suggesting that the path of the cyclone by-passed this location.

Most Nor'west cyclones occur in the 500 mile band between Exmouth and Broome (see image), with an average of 5 occurring during the tropical summer season. Out of these 2 are likely to cross the coast and 1 severe enough to cause damage. Captain Allen of the Koombana must have been aware of this frequency and it poses the question why more caution was not exercised, given that barometer readings would have been dropping well in advance of the system approaching the coast? 

Late in the summer season (March) the cyclones tend to occur more south, sometimes as far as the west coast (Fremantle). Cyclones off the Nor'west can move in different directions. However, having said this, most move in a west-southwest direction and once striking the coast, accelerate in a southeast direction. 

The absence of damage witnessed at Bedout Island further suggests that the cyclone by-passed on the western side, the centre ultimately making landfall in the vicinity of Balla Balla. One wonders if the course to Broome shaping around the outer aspect of Bedout Island even fell within the influence of the cyclone?  

In Annie Boyd's outstanding Koombana Days reference is made to the fact that Upjohn could have been underplaying the possibility of the cyclone striking Bedout Island. Allegedly 17 days after the disaster, maimed and dead birds were discovered on the island suggesting that it had been subjected to hurricane forces. My question is a simple one: how could maimed birds have lasted 17 days? 

The Minderoo was supposed to have been

due at Cossack last night. In anticipation

of her return from a search in the vicinity

of Montebello Islands the post office in Perth

requested the postmaster at Roebourne to

speak at 10 o clock last night and communicate 

any news. At that hour a wire was sent stating 

that so far there was no sign of the Minderoo at 

Cossack. She is not now expected to put in an 

appearance till this evening. Should she, like the 

Bullarra, have no news to impart, it is expected 

that her master will be instructed to search from

Montebello Islands to the Rowley Shoals,

returning to Port Hedland two or three

days later.

The Moira, which left Wyndham on

Thursday for Fremantle, will pass through

the Lacepedes to Montebello Islands stretch

to-day, making Fremantle towards the end

of next week.

Captain F. L. Parkes, of Perth, stated

last evening that he had communicated

with his partner at Onslow requesting that

the firm's pearling fleet should keep a look

out for the missing steamer: He had received 

a reply to the effect that the lugger Redvill 

had just arrived and reported that all was 

safe at the Montebello Islands. The force of 

the gale was only moderate there, and no 

sign of the Koombana had been seen.

All being well the Rowley Shoals were

searched by the Blue Funnel liner Gorgon

yesterday, and that vessel should reach

Broome some time to-day.

The Una will to-day leave Geraldton for

Cossack, where definite instructions regarding 

her search operations are to. be handed

to the captain.

At noon yesterday the Roebourne's post

master reported inability to do any business 

with Whim Creek. A thunderstorm was on, 

and the weather was threatening. A few hours 

later the postmaster advised having spoken 

to the line-repairing party at the Sherlock River, 

where an extensive break was reported, one of 

the lines being washed away. Instructions were 

forwarded to hurry along repairs to the line which

was least damaged.

Port Hedland reported yesterday afternoon 

that the lineman, equipped with a field telephone, 

sent out to the Turner River had not yet spoken, 

and the postmaster at Port Hedland was becoming

anxious regarding his safety. He requested to be 

allowed to hire a horse and proceed there himself. 

The head office immediately advised him to take 

that course.

The Consul for Norway (Mr. R. S. Haynes)

has arranged that the captain and other 

survivors from the wreck of the Crown of 

England shall be brought from Balla Balla to

Fremantle by the SS Gorgon.

courtesy Google Earth

courtesy Google Earth

The official meteorology report at the Inquiry described the diameter of the cyclone as being 90 miles, centre, Balla Balla. Even with this generous estimate, the force of the hurricane did NOT impact on Koombana's route north of Port Hedland, shaping a course round Bedout Island, which was clearly NOT impacted. The Bullarra steamed into hurricane conditions, 22 miles from Balla Balla, 4 pm 20 March, which suggests that the diameter was actually considerably smaller than 90 miles. 

courtesy Trove

ONE OF HER BOATS PICKED UP.

Kalgoorlie Miner, Saturday 6 April, 1912.

LATER NEWS OF THE KOOMBANA

ONE OF HER BOATS

PICKED UP

BY THE STEAMER BULLARRA

NEAR BEDOUT ISLAND.

Perth, April 5.

Telegraphic messages, which came

to hand to-day, supplied further evidence 

that the steamer Koombana, apparently 

with all hands, sank somewhere in the 

vicinity of Bedout Island.

On arrival at Cossack today Captain 

Upjohn, of the Bullarra, telegraphed 

Mr. W. E. Moxon, manager of the 

Adelaide Steamship Co., reporting 

that he had picked up about twenty 

miles to the north of Bedout Island 

one of the Koombana's boats, with the 

company's crest on it, and a quantity 

of smaller wreckage. He also reported 

that he had come across a quantity of 

oily and greasy water, and had secured 

some of it, which he would bring south

for analysis. It is supposed that the oil 

might have come from the engine-rooms

of the ill-fated steamer, and that it might 

indicate the locality of the disaster.

The discovery of oil and greasy water was invariably a localising sign of a steamer wreck beneath that spot. Bearing in mind that the Bullarra searched this location more than a week after the disaster, how was it possible that wreckage and a boat had not drifted away from the oil marker unless the oil marker was at a site some distance away? Captain Upjohn was not clear in his report that the oil and wreckage were found in exactly the same spot. Clarity on this issue is fundamental to understanding the possible site of the Koombana wreck. If the boat and wreckage had been found close to the oil, this might suggest that the items had risen from the wreck to the surface shortly before Bullarra arrived on the scene - due to the wreck shifting?

courtesy Google Earth

The Bullarra has been ordered to

proceed to Onslow to meet the

Moonta for coal, thence she will

come direct to Fremantle for repairs.

She is due to reach the port on next

Friday.

The Bullarra, having discontinued

her search, the only boat now out

looking for traces of the Koombana

is the steamer Una, which was

chartered by the Government.

The name of H. Martel has been

added to the list of steerage 

passengers by the Koombana for 

Derby, Captain Ward, of the Moira,

which arrived at Robb's Jetty early

this morning from the Nor'-West,

reported that he had seen no sign

of any wreckage on his way down
the coast.

Fix this texthe coast.

courtesy Trove

22 MILES FROM BALLA BALLA.

The Advertiser, Adelaide, Wednesday 3 April, 1912.

THE KOOMBANA.

WRECKAGE FOUND.

Perth, April 2.

All doubts as to the fate of the steamer

Koombana were settled to-night by the 

receipt of the following message by the

Deputy Postmaster-General from the 

post-master at Port Hedland:-

"Portion of the Koombana was found 

50 miles from here by the steamer Gorgon. 

There is a lot of small wreckage about 

Bedout Island."

Bedout Island is 52 n miles from Port Hedland. 

Nothing is yet known of the fate of the

130 passengers and crew, but it is 

feared, that all are lost.

The captain of the Bullarra, who has

been searching the islands along the coast,

and whose vessel suffered very severely 

from the cyclone, has given the following

account of his experiences:-

"The weather was looking dirty when the 

ship left Port Hedland on March 20, but 

after consultation with the captain of the 

Koombana, which left 20 minutes later, 

we resolved to put out, the Bullarra 

going south and the Koombana north. 

When about 22 miles from Ballaballa very 

bad weather was struck, but all preparations 

had been made for this. Wind and sea 

increased in fury, and a stockless anchor 

on 120 fathoms of chain was dropped 

over the side. Men were placed forward 

with oil, which was allowed to drip, and 

proved very effective in breaking the seas." 

courtesy Google Earth

courtesy Trove

A Broome telegram states that a schooner

and and two luggers are searching for the 

Koombana. These vessels are working in 

conjunction towards Patterson's shoals, one 

on the third reef, one between the second 

and first reef, and the other between No. 1 

reef and the shore. They will then meet and 

work on the other side of the shoals, and 

work towards Condon and Bedout Islands 

to Port Hedland. If nothing transpires they

will proceed to Rowley shoals, a distance

of 150 miles (180 miles from Port Hedland). 

The vessels are provisioned for a month, 

but they do not in any case expect to be 

back before a fortnight. On arrival at Port 

Hedland a telegram will be sent to Broome 

stating their movements. 

The police authorities have instructed constables

to be on the lookout along the coast from Broome 

to Wallal. A man has been dispatched from Lagrange,

half-way to Wallal, and south from tnis point a man 

will patrol halfway north to meet him from Wallal. 

A man will be sent halfway to Condon, and from the 

latter point a boat will be used.

The Trawler's Search.

The Federal trawler Endeavour sailed

from Port Adelaide on Tuesday afternoon

on her mission to the north-west coast of

Western Australia, to assist in the search

for the missing steamer Koombana. Before 

leaving Port Adelaide the Endeavor filled her 

bunker space with coal and took on board 

stores.

CONFIRMATORY NEWS.

Perth. April 2.

This evening the Premier received the

following telegram from the resident 

magistrate at Broome:-

"Message, just received from postmaster, 

Port Hedland, reads as follows:-'Jones, 

of steamer Gorgon, just ashore, found 

door of stateroom 53 miles from here, 

north of Bedout Island, where there is a 

lot of small wreckage. There appears to 

be no doubt. Cannot get further news till 

steamer comes in, and reports in the 

morning."

This was the turning point.

Mr. Scaddan has telegraphed to the

resident magistrate at Port Hedland for

further particulars, and has telegraphed

the information already received to the

Prime Minister, suggesting that the sailing

of the Federal trawler Endeavor to Western

Australia for Koombana search should be 

stopped.

A moment of harsh reality had dawned. Koombana and all her souls were lost.