[Bailey, John, 2001, The White Divers of Broome, Pan Macmillan, Sydney, page 159]
...
9 The Koombana
...
Next, a story swept through Broome that the Koombana was safe at Derby. No one knew where the rumour had started, but everyone had heard it. The Koombana was safe; she had merely gone straight on to Derby to avoid the weather. The wires to Derby had been blown down, so it wasn't possible to ascertain the truth. Men crowded into the postmaster's tiny office, drinking beer brought over from the Roebuck Bay Hotel while they waited for the wires to be reconnected: Arguments broke out and the postmaster ordered everyone to wait outside, but they ignored him. Every few minutes he jiggled the key, but there was nothing there. It might take hours for the men he had sent out on horseback to rejoin the wire. The heat rose in the room, but no one left.
At last, near sunset, the wire came alive. Those in the room fell quiet, listening to the taps of the keys. The operator at Derby didn’t seem to understand. The message was repeated. There was a long wait while Derby made inquiries. The tapping recommenced. A brief answer came: ‘Koombana not at Derby.’ Silently the crowd left the office. The postmaster typed the words on a black-bordered page he kept for death notices and hung it on the board outside.
...
