["The Missing Koombana", Broome Chronicle (WA), Saturday 06 April 1912]
...
"I Will Go Straight Out To Sea."
In the Centre of the Cyclone.
Port Hedland, April 3.
Further particulars are to hand of the storm which raged at Port Hedland on March 20.
It is stated that Captain Allen, of the Koombana, at first seemed disinclined to go out. When he decided to do so he said, "I am going straight out to sea--will be lucky if I get to Broome on Saturday.
She left that port at half-past 10 on March 20, with her propellor beating out of the water. When passing the entrance to the harbor she rolled deeply.
Captain Allen said he would fill his ballast tanks when he crossed the outer bank.
The ship headed due north, and was followed about an hour later by the Bullarra, going south.
It was a left-handed circular cyclone, and from the direction of the wind it is certain that the Koombana could not possibly have avoided getting right into the centre of it.
