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["The Broome Cyclone", The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), Wednesday 30 December 1908, page 5]
THE BROOME CYCLONE.
SIX VESSELS LOST.
TWENTY-FIVE PEARLERS DROWNED.
Perth, December 29.
After the lapse of nearly fifteen days since the cyclone at Broome, it is now almost certain that all the boats unaccounted for have been lost with their crews. Unlike the April "blow," when the majority of the boats were in full work, a greater number of luggers were at anchor safely in Broome, or elsewhere, and but for this fact consequences would probably have been dreadful, for it is admitted by all those who were unfortunate enough to be in tho zone passed over by the hurricane, that the April storm was mild in comparison.
Regarding the Sayonara and Vandura, belonging to Mr. Don Sutherland, there is now absolutely no hope. The former was sailed by the owner with a crew of six, and the latter, by Gilbert Brown, and a crew of six.
Messrs. Newman and Goldstein are probably the heaviest losers. The losses of the firm are as follows:--Alto (beached with a hope of refloating; no lives lost); Tasmania (one of the crew saved, five lost); Lillie (six of the crew lost); Leon (six of the crew lost) ; Alfred (six of the crew lost).
Seventeen luggers came in dismasted, including the Eva, towed in by the Sultan. The casualties are:--Schooners, one lost, one beached; luggers, four lost; lives lost, 23.