["An Ominous Discovery", The West Australian, Wednesday 03 April 1912, page 7]

AN OMINOUS DISCOVERY.

STATE ROOM DOOR PICKED UP.

SAID TO BELONG TO KOOMBANA.

STEAMERS STILL SEARCHING.

"PORTION OF KOOMBANA FOUND 50 MILES FROM HERE BY S.S. GORGON. LOT OF SMALL WRECKAGE ABOUT BEDOUT ISLAND."

This was the brief but ominous message which was received at a quarter to 8 last night by the Deputy Postmaster-General from his officer at Port Hedland. This in itself was virtually sufficient to at once dispel all hope regarding the fate of the missing steamer Koombana, and when the news became dissipated throughout the city it cast a gloom wherever it was received. Later in the evening, however, the Premier (Mr. Scaddan) received a message from the Resident Magistrate at Broome which, though by no means as convincing as the first intelligence, is in itself ominous enough. This second message reads: Just received following telegram from postmaster at Port Hedland:--Captain of steamer Gorgon, from Broome, ashore here. Reports that he found a door of a state room 50 miles from here, north of Bedout Island, where there is a lot of small wreckage. There can be no doubt. Further reports in the morning. As some confirmation of this the Premier also received the following message from the postmaster at Port Hedland direct: Captain Townley, of the Gorgon, arrived here to-night. He reports that while steering south, 6deg. true west, 25 miles west by north of Bedout Island, he sighted a white panelled piece of wood and picked up same. This was a panelled door, painted white on one side and polished on the other, the fittings being marked with crossed flags, "Walker and Hall," in brackets, and ornamented with a Grecian urn. Door had apparently been forced by pressure--both handles on white side gone and driven in on reverse side. Written in hard pencil is "State first-class entrance, 429 J. D.," Builder Jones. The lock is marked "W. F. Ramsay and Co., Newcastle-in-Tyne." Proceeding, the steamer passed by several small pieces of wreckage, one being a painting stage, others apparently small pieces of wood. The birds were about in unusual numbers. Seeing that the Koombana is the only steamer trading on the Nor'-West coast to be fitted with staterooms, it was natural that Captain Townley should at once infer that the door in question had belonged to her. In this supposition he is supported by the manager of the company (Mr. Moxon), who stated last night that he had little or no doubt on the point. These meagre details, while probably dispelling utterly all hope as to the safety of the vessel will only serve to whet the appetites of the public for further news. The Premier has telegraphed to Port Hedland in order that he may be furnished with further particulars at the earliest possible date. The Gorgon, the bearer or the tidings, was last night lying at anchor in the outer harbour and will come into port this morning. The Prime Minister has also been apprised of the discovery, and the suggestion was made to him that the departure from Adelaide of the Federal trawler Endeavour might in the circumstances be postponed. The burning question now is--what has be come of the 130 souls who comprised the passengers and crew of the apparently foundered vessel? The Bullarra, the Mmderoo, the Una, and other ships are scouring the seas and search parties are hunting along the coast, so that any hour of to-day may bring fresh news.

...

A FORMER CHIEF OFFICER.

IDENTIFIES THE WRECKAGE.

For 15 months Captain Clark was chief officer of the Koombana, and left in June, 1910, to take up his present position with the Harbour Trust. On being acquainted with the contents of the telegram received by Mr. Moxon last night, he informed a representative of this journal that he could positively identify the wreckage described in the telegram as having belonged to the Koombana. In his opinion this would be either the door leading from the chief steward's room, or from one of the pantries, or from an entrance to the scullery leading to the cattle deck from the main saloon entrance. These particular doors were dark on the outside and painted white on the inside. The studs referred to in the telegram were used throughout the ship, and were for the purpose of preventing doors from slamming (being covered with rubber for that purpose). From the description he had no hesitation in saying that the wreckage belongs to the ill-fated steamer.

Regarding the position in which the wreckage was found, Captain Clark stated that it was evident that the vessel had come to grief some considerable distance to the westward, and that the wreckage had been borne landwards by the set of the tide, which always follows on a severe blow in the Nor'-West. He had heard a great deal about the ship being "cranky," and that she had too much top hamper. Although he had never experienced a cyclone in her, he had gone through some very severe blows, and undoubtedly she was the finest little sea-boat he had ever sailed in. From the extraordinary wind chart which had been recorded by the Bullarra and the Moira, and also at Port Hedland, it was apparent that the Koombana had really been caught between two cyclones blowing in contrary directions, in the midst of which no ship would survive.

STATEMENT BY MR. MOXON.

NO HOPES ENTERTAINED.

When seen late last night, Mr. W. E. Moxon, manager of the Adelaide S.S. Company, informed a "West Australian" reporter that he had received a telegram from Mr. Gardiner, the company's branch manager at Port Hedland, reading as follows: "Gorgon picked up panelled door, 25 miles north by west of Bedout Island, painted white on one side, and polished on other side. Silver fittings marked with crossed flags, and Walker and Hall; finger plates both sides; ornamented with Grecian urn, and hanging wreath each side of the door, which had been apparently forced open by pressure; handle on white side gone, and on other side drawn in. Builders' joiner written with hard pencil, 'first-class entrance 429 J.D.'; lock is marked N. F. Ramsey and Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne; several small leather beads attached, about half-inch long; steamer passed several small pieces wreckage, one painting stage; unusual number of birds about."

Referring to the telegram Mr. Moxon explained that the name of Walker and Hall was apparently the name of the maker of the silver fittings, while as regards the reference to the builders' joiner, this was evidently some trace of the work of the builders in the ship yards on the Clyde, where the Koombana was built. When the different parts of the ship were assembled prior to construction being proceeded with, they would be marked by the builders' joiner indicating the location in which they were to be placed in the ship. "J. D." would probably be the initials of the foreman in charge of the work.

Asked for a statement in regard to the matter, Mr. Moxon said:-- "At the present time, the particulars to hand are so meagre that I do not feel able to make any detailed statement until I have had an opportunity of speaking with some of those who are familiar with the Koombana and her fittings. I have been closely studying the telegram, and I have come to the conclusion that the door which has been picked up is evidently one of those at the saloon entrances from either the spar or hurricane decks. The painting stage, which is referred to, means of course one of those planks with cross pieces at either end, which are used to lower over the side of steamers while her crew are engaged in painting her."

Several anxious enquirers called at the office seeking information regarding the fateful news, and to each Mr. Moxon said, in effect, that wreckage had been picked up outside Port Hedland, and there seemed to be every indication that it belonged to the Koombana. He counselled all to resign themselves to the position that the Koombana was lost.

AB notes:

Critical confusion: "25 miles north by west of Bedout Island" or "25 miles west by north of Bedout Island"? Both versions appear.