WHAT DID THE SEARCHES COST?

Given that the plan was to split expenses three ways; Adelaide Steamship Company; Regional Government and Commonwealth, does it suggest that the total bill came to £ 459 ?

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357. cons 066

The following document clarifies that the £ 153 settled the account to charter SS Una. How that figured in the overall cost born by all parties I do not know.

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

BULLARRA INSTRUCTIONS, MOVEMENTS AND DISCOVERIES.

The following transcribed:

"Captain Irvine,                                      2nd April, 1912.
Chief Harbour Master,
Fremantle.

Dear sir,

I beg to advise you that in accordance with your instructions, which were cabled to Broome, as per copies already sent you, the "Bullarra" sailed from Broome on search yesterday afternoon, and I herewith enclose copy of cable received from Streeter & Male Limited, our agents:-

"Bullarra sailed this afternoon, Upjohn instructed arrive Cossack eighth noon certain in accordance your cable."

I am also in receipt of a further telegram this morning (the land line being now open) that the "Gorgon" took 132 bullocks from her, leaving 7 on board the "Bullarra".

Yours faithfully,
Manager for W.A."


Having sailed from Broome Bullarra made the first of two sets of crucial discoveries:

Tuesday 02 April 1912, at dusk, Bullarra. A patch of oily water. S 19º 11' E 119º 25' 30 miles north-east of Bedout

Wednesday 03 April 1912, time not known, Bullarra. Starboard bow planking of a motor launch,
carrying the Adelaide Steamship Company's insignia. S 19º 15' E 119º 06' 20 miles north of Bedout Island

Wednesday 03 April 1912, time not known, Bullarra. A decorated ceiling panel from music or smoke room S 19º 15' E 119º 06' 20 miles north of Bedout Island

Wednesday 03 April 1912, time not known, Bullarra. An awning spar. S 19º 15' E 119º 06' 20 miles north of Bedout Island

Wednesday 03 April 1912, time not known, Bullarra. Another door. S 19º 15' E 119º 06' 20 miles north of Bedout Island


Wednesday 03 April 1912, time not known, Bullarra. Small pieces, including covers from lifeboat flotation tanks. S 19º 15' E 119º 06' 20 miles north of Bedout Island

(Ref. Annie Boyd)

courtesy State Office Records, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

The following extract:

"Captain Irvine

From Streeters Broome

Mon April 1. Cattle transferred Gorgon at wharf yesterday. Coal now being transhipped at anchorage. Watering completed. Send final instructions.

To Streeters, Broome

Mon. April 1. Instruct Upjohn as follows. Your explicit instructions are that you arrive Cossack unfailingly latest noon Monday eighth April bound Fremantle to bunker ex Moonta. Acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully
Manager for W.A."

Note the tone of this telegram. Blunt and commanding are the words which come to mind. 

It seems that despite the fact wreckage discoveries were yet to be made, there had been a shift in tone from a search encompassing 5 to 6 weeks in the case of the chartered Una, to one of 'get back to Fremantle without unnecessary further delays' when it came to Bullarra; which had discharged the bulk of her livestock to the Gorgon at Broome. In fairness to the owners, the steamer required dry-docking at Fremantle and comprehensive repairs after her encounter with the cyclone.

'Sentimental' was not a word one could link the loss of Koombana with her owners.

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

The following communication gives us a clearer idea of what could have been going on behind the scenes:

"per hand                      1st April, 1912

Captain Irvine,
Chief Harbour Master,
Fremantle

Dear Sir,

Pursuant to the directions cabled to Broome, as the result of our conference on Saturday evening last, the Master of the "Bullarra" now cables from Broome that he has transhipped his cattle to the "Gorgon" for the purposes of the search. We assume from his communication that all the cattle are transhipped. If this is so the expenses of the "Bullarra'" engagement, will, so far as we can now see, be confined to the freight on these cattle and the cost of searching, since under the conditions of our shipping receipt we consider we are entitled to tranship. As a consequence the eventual cost to the State Government, the Commonwealth, and our company will probably prove somewhat less than which I anticipated at our conference on Saturday night last.

We presume the Premier is reporting in the matter to the Commonwealth Authorities.
Copies of the cables referred to and replies from Broome, are as appended:

To Streeters Broome

Sat March 30, 11.30 p.m.    Tranship all possible cattle to Gorgon shippers furnishing fodder Hedland. Keep remaining cattle aboard. Prepare your suggested search. take sufficient water fodder coal voyage Fremantle. Further instructions Sunday. When can you start. Furnish dimensions construction new funnel.

Limiting costs had entered the picture which goes towards explaining the blunt nature of instructions issued for Bullarra to arrive at (report to) Cossack by no later than 8th April.  

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357. cons 066

THE TURNING POINT.

The following transcribed:

"Chief Harbormaster File      ? 8 April, 1912
Gorgon reports picking up panelled door twenty five miles north by west Bedout, painted white one side, polished other, silver fittings marked Cross flags Walker and Hall, finger plates each side, ornaments with Grecian urn with hanging wreath each side, door apparently forced by pressure, handle white side gone and reverse side drawn in, builders joiners written with Hard pencil first class Entrance four two nine J D lock marked N F Ramsey Company Newcastle on Tyne, several small leather Heads attached about Half Inch Long, steamer passed several small pieces Timber, one a painting stage, unusual number of birds about, Gordon acting wharfinger
8 pm"

This now well known discovery did indeed come from Koombana - Chief Steward's cabin door. Up until this point there had been hope of a Koombana adrift. At this turning point the message was clear, the flagship had gone to a watery grave and too many birds in the location invariably signaled the presence of floating bodies - sighted or otherwise.

Note again (see image below) how the telegram location of the discovery differs significantly from the official site.

My feeling is that distances quoted in these early telegrams were not accurate and it came down to coordinates quoted in respective steamer logs.

courtesy State Office Records, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

courtesy State Office Records, series 2357, cons 066

courtesy Google Earth

UNA vs. PENGUIN.

The following extract illustrates the cost factor in organizing searches for Koombana; which was anticipated to occupy five - six weeks:

"As to the "Penguin", the daily consumption of this vessel is rather high to permit of her carrying out an extensive search, which I fear may now be necessary, but in lieu of her I recommend that the small cargo steamer "Una", now under charter to the Government and expected to arrive at Geraldton tomorrow, be re-engaged to proceed to the North-West coast and to conduct a systematic search of the waters lying between Montebello Islands and the Rowley Shoals. The consumption of this vessel is about half that of the "Penguin" and if it could be arranged the "Una" to be coaled by the Railway Department at Geraldton (150 tons) she could be despatched on Saturday next on a search extending over five or six weeks." 

The 5 - 6 week time frame suggests that the authorities were anticipating a difficult search covering a vast expanse of ocean. 

Anything was possible.....

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

The Una mission got off to a rocky start:

"The Chief Harbour Master
Fremantle

Sir,

Confirming my wire of this morning I beg to state that the SS "Una" got away at 3 a.m. today.
I regret the delay, but it was due to the coaling taking longer than expected and then at 1 a.m., when she was all ready for departure, a mishap occurred in the engine room necessitating the blowing off of steam to affect repairs.
She took in 125 tons of coal, having 25 tons old stock on board - and 2460 gallons of water.
The 125 tons of coal filled her hold.
She was unable to take any in her bunkers owing to part of the old stock which was there being heated.

Mr. Miller
Pilot
Geraldton                 March 30th/12

An interesting period observation about not being able to mix fresh coal with existing 'heated' coal. Fears of fire or explosion??

courtesy State records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS.

The Following document is transcribed as far as possible:

"THE ACTING UNDER SECRETARY (contd.)

the subject this morning and attach herewith his offer. The price asked is ￡10 per day, Government to find coal and water. This, I think, should be reduced to ￡9.

However, I should be glad if you would at once place this before the Hon. the Premier and advise me what action it to be taken.

In order to save time I am forwarding this file by special messenger and on receipt of instructions by telephone will take the necessary action to carry out these proposals.

Chief Harbor Master."    28 march, 1912.

Chief Harbor Master was Captain Irvine who added the following interesting thought:

"I to P.

Arrange with ship to coal "Una" at Geraldton. It is strange how the shipping Co's fix rates even when in the interests of shipping itself - human life not counted.

J.I.     (J Irvine).

Indeed!!

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

GORGON REVELATION ?

The following undated document gives a detailed account of the movements of the SS Gorgon and discoveries made. 

Transcribed as follows:

"Telegram received from 

Captain Mills, S.S. "Gorgon."

Searched within following positions by running parallel lines 30 miles apart lat. 20.15 long 116. Lat 18.40 long. 116. Lat 18.40 long 117.40. Lat. 20. long. 118. from last position bearing East 10 miles, then  north 30 miles then East 15 picked up smoking room settee cushion and part of cabin door; In lat 19.36, long 117.53 and in lat. 19.32 Long 118.10 picked up bottom board of boat, small teak panel. Abandoned further search sunset Tuesday as considered ship is lost in vicinity of Bedout Island."

How is it possible that the above can differ so wildly from the following?

"Tuesday 02 April 1912 10:15 Gorgon. A stateroom door, white one side, polished the other,
still attached to broken stile S 19º 10' E 119º 06' 25 miles north of Bedout

Tuesday 02 April 1912 10:45 Gorgon. Several small pieces of board,
one apparently part of a painting stage. S 19º 10' E 119º 06' 25 miles north of Bedout"

(Ref. Annie Boyd)

courtesy State Records Office, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066

2 'cushion' sites separated by 32.5 miles

The answer is quite simple.

Captain Mills was the master of SS Minderoo, not SS Gorgon.

However, it is interesting that the 2 positions plotted / given for the smoking room settee cushion were 32.5 miles apart, which gives us pause to reflect on coordinates presented as fact in publications.

Nitpicking aside, the pattern of wreckage distribution is still compelling in the context of Captain Upjohn's oil patch being the wreck site and the prevailing westward trending current.






courtesy Google Earth.

REALITY.

The following document refers to the coaling of Bullarra for her return voyage to Fremantle. The date is 3rd April, 1912, and due to the significance of wreckage discoveries the search was to be called off. There was no further hope of finding Koombana adrift or aground.

What is particularly interesting to note is that there were no plans for Bullarra to return to the site of the 'oil patch' and drag the vicinity with a 'wire' to snag and confirm the position of the wreck. 

Koombana was gone and a mystery 'created'.

courtesy State Office Records, Western Australia, series 2357, cons 066