["S.S. Koombana", The West Australian, Monday 25 March 1912, page 7]
S.S. KOOMBANA.
"NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY."
Last night the Premier received the following telegram, signed by the Resident Magistrate and the Mayor of Broome:--
"Koombana now 72 hours overdue from Hedland. Intense anxiety. Oldest residents think serious accident. Consider absolutely necessary despatch steamer search promptly."
Mr W. E. Moxon, manager in Western Australia of the Adelaide S.S. Company, the owners of the steamship Koombana, when seen by one of our reporters last night, stated that he had heard of the telegram received by the Premier, but he felt no anxiety for the safety of the vessel, as Captain Allen, the officer in charge, is a very careful and cautious master, and would no doubt keep well out to sea. Mr. Moxon has no doubt that that course has been adopted on this occasion, and that that is the cause of the delay in arriving at Broome, an opinion in which Captain Irvine, the chief harbourmaster concurs. Mr. Moxon hopes this morning to hear definitely of the safety of the steamer.
AB notes:
Broome residents, awaiting loved ones, were extremely pro-active.
