A TERRIFIC STORM

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 27

A TERRIFIC STORM

THE WESTRALIAN CYCLONE. LOSS OF THE CROWN OF ENbLAND. EIGHT MEN DROWNED. PERTH, March 26. Full telegraphic communication with the north-west is not yet restored, but-t-he few details that are coming to hand show that the storm was even worse than was at first reported. The latest news from Depuch Island states that 16 whites have been buried. Three Japanese from the lugger Clara were found in a dinghy off Moore Island. They say they swam ashore after battling with the waves for three hours, and they had no food for four days. Then they found a dinghy which had been washed ashore, and put off for help. Grave anxiety is felt for the Kcombana, now four days overdue. She is fitted with a wireless apparatus, but no messages have been received. She carries 39 passengers. All vessels have been instructed to keep a sharp lookout. The general opinion in shipping circles is that she is only disabled, as she has the reputation of being a good sea boat. A Malay from the lugger Clara, who walked along the beach, arrived at Roebourne to-day after a terrible experience. He states that the luggers Karrakatta and Britannia were lying close to the Clara, and when the latter sank they alsj disappeared. The former had a crew of one white man and six coloured men, and the crew of the Britannia consisted of one white man and seven Japanese. The anxiety is growing in respect to the Koombana. March 27. Details of the Ballaballa disaster (telephoned to Roebourne) show that when the cyclone struck the Crown of England she had two of her anchors down and her lifeboats in readiness, but one of the cables snapped, and the vessel swung sideways, drifting on to the rocks off Depuch island. The sea poured over her, and the crew were forced to take refuge in the rigging. At daybreak the captain ordered the crew to try to gain the shore, as the vessel was breaking up. The men took to the surf, but eight of them were drowned in endeavouring to gain the shore. Their bodies have been recovered. The captain of the barque Concordia, seeing that the anchors of his vessel were unable to hold her, steered on to a sandy beach, where the vessel lies practically undamaged. The mail steamers lying at Fremantle endeavoured unsuccessfully to reach the Koombana by wireless messages. A message which has been received from Port Hedland and which was despatched at noon, via Broome and Port Darwin, states that scarcely any damage has been done at Port Hedland, but it is estimated that 32 whites and 40 coloured persons were drowned during the cyclone. REPORTED WRECK OF THE KOOMBANA. PERTH, March 27. The Postal Department is working strenuously to restore telegraphic communication north of Roebourne, where the Koombana is possibly sheltering. Roebourne was spoken for a moment, but the line immediately failed again. A rumour has been circulated that the steamer is ashore on the Ninety-mile Beach. Tlie Bullarra has returned to Port Hedland. She was unable to find any trace of the Koombana. which is now seven days out from Port Hedland to Broome. The trip generally occupies 24 hours. March 28. A large fleet of luggers and steamers is proceeding to patrol the coast and neighbouring islands in the hope of some signs of the Koombana. One of the most experienced navigators on the coast thinks that the Koombona was carried on to the Rowley Shoals, a treacherous coral reef 120 miles west of Port Hedland. In that case she probably would not last long, but if she ran before the wind she should have been reported by this. The following are the Fremantle passengers supposed to have been aboard the Koombana : —Captain Parson. Messrs Davis, Simpson, Forest, C. Piper, G. Piper, Slade, Jenkins, Dalton, Hays, Spark, Purcell, Poor, Harper, Rustle, Milne, W. H. Smith, Pitcher, Clinch, Main, Cowan, Craigie, Taylor, Freney, Evans, W. Davie, Baker, Martin, Hereford, 'Green, Smith, Vasey, M'Swain, M'Kibbon, Yiles, Goodhart, Doyle, Baker, M'Crouble. Captain Allen was in command. There is still no sign of the Koombana. The Government is arranging for an elaborate search, and is negotiating for the charter of the small steamer Una. It will equip her for a month's cruise, and she will traverse the seas between Montebello Island and the Rowley Shoals. Attention is drawn to the fact that it is exactly a year since the same company's Yongala was posted as missing. The general manager of the company believes that the Koombana has broken down. March 29. Four whites who were supposed to have been drowned at Balla Bulla have re-

turned from Roebourne, where they effected a safe landing. March 30. The Bullara has reached Broome, and reports "No news of the Koombana." March 31. No news of the Koombana has been received. April 1. There seems little doubt that the Koombana is lost. The steamer Gorgon, from Sourabaya, reports that she searched the Rowley Shoals without finding any trace of the missing steamer. All that now remains to be done is to complete the deep-sea search, part of which is already being undertaken by the Una. MELBOURNE. March 29. The Commonwealth Government has informed the Westralian Government that it is prepared to bear a proportion of the cost of any search for the Koombana. The Westralian Government has replied that everything possible is being done. The steamers Bullara and Una have been despatched on a special search. Several luggers will examine the coast, and men have been sent along the coast line to explore the foreshore from the land. The Federal Government has instructed the trawler Endeavour to proceed from the Great Australian Bight to assist. ANOTHER LUGGER WRECKED PERTH, March 28. A report from Cossack shows that that town suffered but little damage from the cyclone, but fences were blown down and iron telegraph poles snapped. The lugger Mary H. Shaw was wrecked off Lewis Island. Her crew swam ashore, and lived on shellfish and a bag of flour for four days before being rescued.