["Koombana Foundered", The Hedland Advocate (Port Hedland, WA), Saturday 06 April 1912, page 5]

KOOMBANA FOUNDERED

One Hundred and Forty Lives Lost

Within 100 Miles of Hedland--Vessel Sailed right into the Jaws of the Cyclone--No Other Course open

--Violence and Destructiveness of the Hurricane without a Parallel in the History of the Nor'-West

--Wreckage Recovered

Judging from all available information, historical and traditional, relating to willy-willies on this coast it would appear that the one just past (March 20-23) is without a parallel in its extradinary characteristics of violence and destruction. There is no account of any willy equalling this in its various phenomena of suddenness and severity of power.

The Commonwealth weather officers should make records of its character, course, and effects.

It was preceded by hot, stifling days. On the Monday several divers, who have been years on the coast, warned their masters that there were sudden changes of hot and cold water below, with a ground swell, which, although the surface of the sea was calm and the glass good, they declared indicated the approach of a blow. [A similar warning was given by old divers two days before the disastrous Broome blow.] Quite suddenly on Tuesday night a strong cockey blew up from the east, followed by moderate winds and a little rain. On Wednesday the wind shifted slightly to the south, increasing in its strength, and by midday it was again blowing from the East - all through blowing in gusts, accompanied by occasional showers. By the time (about 10 30 a.m.) the Koombana and Bullarra (about an hour later) had left Hedland, it began to excite alarm, luggers moved up the creeks and people bolted up their houses. Two or three layers of swiftly racing clouds could frequently be seen through the prevailing mist. It blew with terrific force whenever it shifted its course, and in Hedland we miraculously escaped its full fore[sic], but the Bullarra struck its fury about three hours out, and the Koombana may have struck it earlier.

The hurricane was moving southward, and its centre was not far out to sea, as the Bullarra experienced half an hour's dead calm (in which it was possible to keep a match alight) in the middle of the hurricane.

What must be the feelings of those on board the lightly loaded Koombana have been as the wind and water came booming against her with resistless power? Officers of the ships Moira and Bullarra say the rapidity of the storm was indescribable, the wind driving from the raging and foaming sea spray like a snow-storm, which mingled with the clouds.

As the Koombana left the port, she was so light that her propeller was partly out of the water, and in the small swell at the entrance was racing. Once outside, Capt. Allen had no other course open but that which led his ship right into the vortex of the tremendous elemental strife which prevailed at sea.

With a map or chart before the reader, and following record, taken in Hedland, the fact is easily borne in upon the mind, that the Koombana had to go into danger to avoid land and reefs:

March 20.

4 p.m., east, wind fresh

10 p.m., east and east-north-east, strong

March 21.

10 a.m., east, strong

12 noon, east-north-east, very strong

1 p.m., east-north-east, hurricane force

2 p.m. to 9 p.m., north-east, hurricane force

10 p.m., north-north-east, hurricane force

12 midnight, north, a howling hurricane.

March 22

4 a.m. till noon, north-north-west, hurricane

The wind very gradually fell from 2 p.m., and at early morning was blowing with occasional strong puffs from the west.

It is fairly certain that the Koombana was not more than 70 miles from Hedland, and in the worst part of the hurricane, on Wednesday night or Thursday, and sank.

The seas off Bedout are dreaded by seamen when an ordinary strong wind blows, and it cannot possibly be conceived what they were like during the height of this gale.

It is also certain that the light on Bedout Island was out on the Wednesday night.

The public alarm at the continued absence of news of the Koombana increased to confusion, consternation and distress.

...