30[Extracts, Court of Marine Inquiry, loss of s.s. "Koombana", Harbour & Lights Department, Western Australia, 25 April - 6 May, 1912. WA Museum (on loan), Testimony of Harry Upjohn, master of S.S. Bullarra]

HARRY UPJOHN, Sworn.

EXAMINED THE CROWN PROSECUTOR.

You are the Master of the s.s. "Bullarra,"? - Yes.

Were you the Master of her on the 18th March last? - Yes.

Did you arrive at Port Hedland on the 18th March? - Yes.

What were the tides then? - Tides were making 19 feet springs.

What day did the s.s. "Koombana" arrive at Port Hedland? -

On the 19th March.

During the time you were in Port Hedland did you have any

conversation with Captain Allen in respect of the weather? -

Yes.

On what date was that? - On the morning of the 20th.

Will you tell the Court what the conversation was? - It took

place on my ship. We had a general conversation and Capt.

Allen said "What do you think about the weather?"

What was your reply? - "Its overcast and a bit dirty but

there is nothing in it."

Can you fix the time that this conversation took place? -

It was just before breakfast or just after.

That would be about 8 o'clock? - Yes.

What was the state of the weather at this time? - Very nice

fresh breeze, overcast and cloudy.

It struck you as being a bit dirty? - Just overcast.

...

When you went out, what length of time did you follow in the

"Koombana's" Course? - I followed out in her course, keeping

leads astern, somewhere about half an hour or three quarters.

And you last saw her? - About two hours after leaving.

Was she proceeding on her ordinary course to Broome? -

On the ordinary course to Bedout.

Was she in good trim? - Yes.

The top of her propellor, according to the plan, is about on

the 18' mark: You say she was well submerged? - Yes.

From the time you left Port Hedland until the time you lost

sight of the "Koombana", had the wind changed? - No.

Had the velocity altered? - No.

During that day, when did the direction of the wind change

first? - About 4 p.m.

Where were you bound? - South to Balla Balla.

You were going in the opposite direction to that taken by the

"Koombana"? - Yes.

What time did the wind change its direction first? - Some-

where between 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock. It is very carefully noted

in the log book. The wind was E.N.E at 5 o'clock. Commenced

to flicker and went back again. (portion of log book put in).

When did the wind change? - Between 2 and 4 o'clock.

Coming back to the time you left Port Hedland? - At 6.20am

we commenced swinging, at 10.40 cast off. There was a strong

N.E. wind, cloudy.

Mr. DOWLEY. You say the wind changed from E.N.E. From what? - There was a

strong breeze which changed from N.E.

CROWN

PROSECUTOR. At what time did you lose sight of the "Koombana" - about

12 o'clock? - A little before, when the sea became rough.

When did you notice the sea change to rough? When you left it

was a nice pleasant breeze and smooth? - Yes, it

freshened later.

When the wind freshened and the sea became rough, was the

Koombana still in sight? - Yes, but I lost sight of her shortly

after.

Did you notice what weather she was making? Did you see her? -

I saw her but could not tell how she was behaving.

The next entry is in regard to the weather? - Heavy N.E. gale,

heavy sea, 4 o'clock.

You were still on your course for Balla Balla? - Yes. At 4.2.

p.m. I slowed the engines.

At 5 o'clock you altered your course from S 50 W to N.E? - Yes.

What other note have you? - Put screens up and tarpaulins in

main weather rigging and round poop, took soundings and found

25 fathoms.

You were then steering out to open sea after doing this? -

Yes.