[Extracts, Court of Marine Inquiry, loss of s.s. "Koombana", Harbour & Lights Department, Western Australia, 25 April - 6 May, 1912. WA Museum (on loan), Letter, W. Gardiner, A.S.S. Coy agent in Port Hedland, to W.E. Moxon, A.S.S. Coy Manager for W.A., Fremantle, Monday 15 April 1912]
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A shell opener on another of Mr. McDaniel's boats who came in recently stated casually, not in any way as having bearing on the "Koombana" that a fellow shell-opener named Monger (one of the W.A. family) picked up two air compartments - small sealed tank made of copper on Turtle Island on Tuesday, the 26th ult. Not being aware of the absence of the "Koombana" they did not know what they were. From the description that would appear to be the air compartments of a lifeboat. However, they gave the matter no further thought. Being light, this class of wreckage would travel fast on the surface while the storm was in progress and would come down rapidly to Turtle Island when the wind veered to the North and N.W. and West. This serves to strengthen the theory that the unfortunate vessel was lost in the vicinity of Bedout.
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