WESTRALIAN CYCLONE

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 26

WESTRALIAN CYCLONE

TRYING TIME AT SEA. PERTH, April 2. Communication with Broome has been restored. The captain of the steamer Bullara reports that he left Ballaualla half an hour before the Koombana. Previous to sailing the two captains conferred on the weather, and eventually decided to take the risk. A few hours later they struck a cyclone. The captain of the Bullara put out a storm anchor and 12 fathoms of chain and poured oil on the water. The latter considerably reduced the waves, but the force of the wind carriel away the vessel's funnel. FATE OF THE KOOMBANA. DISCOVERY OF WRECKAGE. PERTH, April 3. A message from the postmaster at Port Hedland reports that during her search the steamer Gorgon found portion of the Koombana, and passed a lot of small wreckage near the Bedout Islands. A further message states that wreckage has been found 60 miles from Port Hedland. Nothing is known of the fate of the Koombana's passengers and crew, numbering 130, but it is feared that all are lost. The door that was found has been definitely identified as belonging to the cabin of the chief steward of the Koombana. The manager of the company counsels inquirers to resign themselves to the fact that the vessel has been lost. The following passengers are supposed to have been aboard the Koombana: Captain Parson, Messrs Davis, Simpson, Forest, C. Piper, G. Piper, Slade, Jenkins, Dalton, Hays, Spark, Puree!!, 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, Viles, Goodhart, Doyle, Baker, M'Crouble, Police Corpora! Butcher, Mesdames Piggott, Sack, Misses Skamp (2). The officers were as follow : —Mr Jameson (first). Mr Kilney (second), Mr Peacock (third), Mr Harris (purser), Mr Lyon (wireless operator). Engineers: Mr Ennis (chief), Mr Wassell (second), MiKelly (third), Mr Christie (fourth), MiArrow (fifth). Mr Johnson was chief steward and Mr Mangan second, and Mrs Freer was stewardess. There were 65 members of the crew. The wreckage found consisted of the panel of a door similar to those on the Koombana. It appeared to have been forced away by the weight of water.

April 4. Further wreckage from the Koombana has been found. The opinion of experts is that she was overwhelmed in the cyclone. April 5. The owners have relinquished all hope for the safety of the Koombana, and have officially notified the public that she has been lost. It is believed that the vessel foundered in the vicinity of Bedout Island. It is surmised that the absence of a light caused the captain to misjudge his position and strike a reef. No person could have lived in the sea then running, and, besides, the place is infested by myriads of sharks. April 7. The steamer Una has returned after searching Bedoubt Island. Her captain reports that 33 miles north of the island he found a ship's boat and also a quantity of wreckage, which is believed to have belonged to the Koombana. The captain thinks the wreckage is coming up from the bottom of the sea.