["Message from the Koombana", The Hedland Advocate (Port Hedland, WA), Saturday ?20 April 1912]
Broome, April 18.
The "Straits Times," Singapore, dated 30th ult., contains the following, headed "The lost steamer Koombana":
When steamer Montoro was off the Nor'-West coast of Australia on March 21st she got into touch with the Koombana by means of her wireless telegraphy installation. Subsequently it was learned that the Koombana had been wrecked with the loss of many lives.
The Montoro (Burns Philps), which trades between Straits Settlement and North-East Australia, is supposed to be in the vicinity of Cairns at present, and news will probably be received from her captain (Wilson) in the course of a day or so as to the authenticity of the above paragraph.
AB notes:
Another (derivative) report of a distress message being received by Montoro on the 21st.
