["The Wrecked Koombana", Broome Chronicle (WA), Saturday 13 April 1912]
INTERVIEWS.
CAPT. DALZIEL.
Captain Dalziel, harbormaster at Broome, who was in charge of the search party organised by the Mayor, Resident Magistrate, Mr. Archie Male, and other prominent citizens, said he left Broome at midnight on the 25th March in the schooner Muriel. The other members of the party comprised Captain White and Bennie in luggers. Captain White had instructions to proceed along the coast, and search all shoals, and Capt. Bennie to a point 60 miles north of Bedout, and then on to Hedland. I went to Rowley Shoals arriving there on the 29th, and Clark Reef (middle shoal) on the 30th, spoke Gorgon that afternoon, and proceeded along north of Clark Reef, and down the east side of Impereuse Reef. At 2.30pm on the 31st spoke the Moira, and I intimated had searched the shoals and saw nothing. Then zigzagged down to Bedout by 16 mile tacks and sighted Bedout on the forenoon of the 3rd. At 6 p.m. that night boarded the Bullarra at sea, when Captain Upjohn reported he had found part of a boat with the company's badge on it, and a piece of ceiling panelling. I then proceeded to Turtle Island and searched, and arrived at Hedland on the 4th, satisfied that we had done our best, and as steamers were out in all directions decided to return. After leaving Hedland at 2 p.m. on the 5th again visited Bedout and lit the lamp and thoroughly searched, but saw no trace of wreckage. During the earlier stages it had been reported that the island showed no signs of a storm, as the glass was not encrusted. I was convinced, however, from the number of dead and maimed birds in the scrub, a severe gale had occurred. The glass not being encrusted goes for nothing, as one dewey night would clear that.
