["The Crown of England - Graphic Story of the Wreck", The West Australian, Wednesday 27 March 1912, page 7]
At Depuch Anchorage.
...
In regard to the deaths of the witnesses in the Seleno murder trial at Roebourne, the facts are that they were directed by the Crown Law authorities to proceed to Point Sampson in the Bullarra, which was making a special trip to pick them up at Depuch Anchorage on her way back from Port Hedland. The original intention was that the steamer should arrive outside Depuch on the Tuesday night, but owing to the captain missing the tide at Port Hedland on the Monday, the steamer was unable to run to time, and this mishap cost several lives. On Wednesday afternoon, the motor launch which is used for towing and carrying mails and passengers from the steamers to Balla Balla left the wharf at Balla Balla to take out the last of the passengers and mails for the Bullarra. Amongst those who went out were Messrs. Maginnis (wharfinger), Slaven, Thomson (of the mine staff), and Hill (licensee of the Federal Hotel). When the launch left a very strong wind was blowing, and some doubt was expressed as to whether it would be possible for the launch to reach the steamer, but as the news of her departure had been received from Port Hedland, and no intimation given as to her not coming in to Balla Balla, Mr. Maginnis considered it necessary to keep faith with the steamer, more especially as the witnesses concerned in the case at Roebourne were under a penalty to appear. When the launch left the shelter of the creek it was found that a heavy sea was running, but the lighter Clyo was reached safely and a boat was sent across from her to take the passengers from the launch. The first to go were Messrs. Maginnis, Thomson and Hill, who reached the lighter safely, but with the rising wind and sea it was considered too risky and difficult to tranship the rest of the passengers, some of whom refused to take the risk. The launch then stood by for the weather to moderate, but all the time it kept on steadily increasing in force until at about nine o'clock, when Captain Ericksen, of the ship Concordia, who had gone aboard the launch from the Enterprise, hailed Mr. Maginnis on the lighter and told him it was impossible to stay any longer without great danger of swamping. He made off back for Balla Balla, where he arrived safely after a rough experience.
The captains of the various lighters hung on as long as possible, but finding it was impossible for their craft to live in the raging sea, cables of the Enterprise and Steady were slipped on the Thursday afternoon and the vessels were steered for the sandy beach at Depuch Island. The former vessel unfortunately hit on the rocky part of the beach and went to pieces, but the Steady was more fortunate, and being also flat-bottomed ran high on the beach, where she now lies high and dry. The crews of both vessels and the passengers were saved.
The Clyo, from accounts received, tried to ride out the gale, but was swamped, and the unfortunate loss of life occurred. Messrs. Maginnis, Thomson and Hill were drowned, together with one of the crew. It would appear that everyone took to the rigging, but later on, when the vessel sank, Maginnis and Hill said good-bye to one another and, with the sailor, sprang into the sea to try and swim ashore. Only the sailor reached it. Thomson was never seen after the boat sank. He must have become entangled in the rigging and so went down with the boat. The sea running was too rough to enable an ordinary swimmer to live, and the man who came ashore owed his life to the fact that he had been fortunate to secure a floating spar. The rest of the crew remained in the rigging until morning, and swam ashore as the sea moderated.
