35a["Coastal Gales", Broome Chronicle (WA), Saturday 30 March 1912, page 2]
Coastal Gales.
Great Loss of Life and Property.
A Trying Time for Shipping.
Koombana Still Missing
Vessels In Search.
The long pent up feeling of residents along the coast as to the whereabouts of the fine steamer Koombana, with her living freight, has not been relieved during the week, the steamer still being missing, but with the systematic search now being carried out something definite may be brought to light at any moment. It is held in well-informed circles that she is afloat, disabled, and being so magnificently equipped in every way it is thought some minor accident may have befallen her machinery and she is effecting repairs.
The gale which has raged along the coast has been an exceptionally heavy one, and in every instance when it has been met it is described as the worst yet experienced along the coast. The first news of the extent of the damage done came from Port Hedland, as follows:--
From the Postmaster at Hedland to the Postmaster, Broome, as follows: --(Three miles out)--Two ships, lighter, and lot of luggers lost, 40 whites drowned. Lugger 'Clara' (Scanlan's) went down with seven hands; 11 bodies found. Steamer outside flying signals of distress, no funnel, no decking (since confirmed as the Bullarra)."
Then came more information from the same source:--"Glad to see you again. (This after a week's interruption.) Just got the tail of it. About 30 poles down between here and Balla Balla. Got the full willy. Two big ships wrecked and Bullarra lost her funnel. One of Scanlan's luggers missing and four dismasted here - two of Scanlan's, one of Johnson's, and one of Dyson's. About 40 lives lost at Balla Balla. All the Company's boats gone down. McGuiness, wharfinger and P.M., Balla Balla, drowned; bodies recovered. Found eleven bodies altogether so far. All those on the murder case were drowned." (The murder case referred to is is the one in which two Italians (Joseph Saleno and Lawrence Capelli) were charged with the murder, by stabbing, at Whim Creek, one Thomas Darlington, about Christmas time. They were returning by the Company's lighter after leaving the Bullarra.)
35b["The Nor'-West Cyclone", The Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA), Tuesday 02 April 1912, page 34]
...
The Scanlon Family.
Safely in Port.
Mrs. Mat. Jackson, of Boulder, who was under the impression that her father, Mr. Scanlon, and her two brothers James and Hugh, had perished during the severe cyclone which swept the Nor'-West coast last week, received a reassuring telegram from her father yesterday, who, with his two sons, had safely reached a northern town. They were engaged in pearling, and the three luggers upon which they were engaged had arduous and trying experiences. Two of the boats were dismasted and buffeted about, and the third, the Clara, was wrecked, as previously announced.
...