[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.
