["Cursed Pearl and the Koombana": Graham de Vahl Davis, interviewed by Greg Hayes, ABC Kimberley, Western Australia, 09 May 2002]
key points:
graham declares personal and financial interest in pearl
pearl luggers museum: curator richard baillieu says pearl may not be worth much after 90 years of immersion
abraham davis moved to west, lived in Broome house at Anne and Hamersley Streets; house now gone
worked for brother-in-law Mark Ruben, but had luggers of his own
no complete passenger list for Koombana
abraham definitely onboard
forty fathoms deep by ion iddress
the pearl story
big rose-colored pearl found by native pearl diver; he was murdered
the next owner hid pearl on a ship and then he was washed overboard
several subsequent owners before abraham davis
graham doesn't accept course, but tells story about crash of plane during calibration of magnetomer
someone has suggested to graham that 20,000 pounds then may be $2,000,000 today?
he responds "I'll sell you my interest in the pearl for $1M"
major marine undertaking - 50 or 100 fathoms - therefore submersible needed
item in West Australian a few weeks ago before 90 anniversary
passenger list published in genealogical journal about 15 years ago
some of the deaths not ever recorded
later owner of the the house "Bishop's Palace" claimed to see ghost of Abraham Davis
the site now has holiday flats
