["Koombana's Fate", The West Australian, Thursday 04 April 1912, page 7]
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THE STORM AT PORT HEDLAND.
CONDITIONS ON MARCH 20.
CAPTAIN ALLEN'S FEARS.
Port Hedland, April 3.
As if to palliate the tedium of the scorching, enervating heat Port Hedland was visited on March 20 with the tail end of a willy willy, which, coming from equinoctal tides, did a fair amount of damage. It was fairly certain that had it been a full willy-willy it would have spelt disaster to the lowlands of Hedland. It started on Tuesday night with a strong easterly wind, and the waves thundered on the beach with indications of heavier and deadlier surges out to sea. Wednesday morning saw about forty luggers running to shelter off Port Hedland, where they were soon safely anchored. These luggers had a rough time on Tuesday night near Turtle Island, and the cutting away of masts in some cases was seriously contemplated. The wind increased its velocity, and it continued for three days and nights. The waves surged up the harbour's entrance, and the breakers crashed into the sandy Esplanade, and washed thousands of tons of it away.
Captain Allen seemed disinclined to go out, and when he decided to do so he said, "I am going straight out to sea, and will be lucky if I get to Broome on Saturday." She left he port at half-past 10 o'clock on March 20 with propeller beating out of the water. When passing the entrance to the harbour she rolled deeply. Captain Allen stated that he would fill the ballast tanks when he crossed the outer bank. The ship headed due north, and was followed about an hour afterwards by the Bullarra going south.
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