Heffernan (alias Ryan), M.
[SS "Koombana": list of crew as per copy of Articles at shipping office, Fremantle, Adelaide Steamship Company, April 1912. provided to the author by Jean Northover, City Beach, Western Australia]
THE CREW AGE BIRTHPLACE
...
M. Ryan, (also known as Heffernan) A.B. 34 Bristol
["Story of the Koombana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 12]
"P. Clinton, F. Wilson, H. B. Rea, C. Stanley, T. McDonnell, William A. Farnell, W. Carton, M. Ryan, M. Dwyer, P. Jenkins, J. McGuckin and F. Gunning, A.B.'s"
["The Crew", The West Australian, Wednesday 03 April 1912, page 7]
The following is the complete crew which left with the vessel, according to the records in the Adelaide Co.'s office:--
...
P. C. Clinton, F. Wilson, H. B. Rea, C. Stanley, T. McDonnell, William. A. Farrell, W. Carton, M. Ryan, M. Dwyer, P. Jenkins, J McGuckin, and F. Gunning, A.B.'s.
...
["The Koombana", The West Australian, Friday 12 April 1912, page 7]
OFFICIAL LIST OF CREW
The following official list of the names of the crew who signed on the s.s. Koombana's articles and who were supposed to have gone in the vessel is supplied by the Shipping Master of Fremantle (Captain T. W. Smith). The age, birthplace, and capacity of each member is given:--
...
M. Ryan (or Heffernan), 34, Bristol, able seaman;
...
[Agreement and Account of Crew, s.s. Koombana, August 1911 - March 1912, Harbour and Lights Department, Western Australia. State Records Office of Western Australia, Consignment 1056 Item 301]
The register indicates that both Ryan and Clinton transferred to Koombana from Innamincka on 25 August 1911.
["Two Victims Immigrants", The Argus (Melbourne), Friday 19 April 1912, page 7]
...
Fate has been unkind to a number of immigrants soon after their arrival in the Commonwealth. When the s.s. Gothic arrived at Fremantle recently, three women belonging to the West Australian contingent learned the terrible news that they were widows. Their husbands had met with violent deaths while the wives were on the voyage. One man was lost with the s.s. Koombana.
["Still They Come", The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 12 April 1912, page 10]
SHIPLOADS OF IMMIGRANTS.
...
FREMANTLE, Thursday.
Tho steamer Gothic arrived yesterday evening with 630 immigrants for Western Australia, and 900 for Victoria.
...
["Koombana Relief Fund" (letter to the Editor), The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Thursday 25 April 1912, page 13]
To the Editor.
Sir-I am directed by a committee, consisting of his Worship the Mayor and a number of prominent citizens of Fremantle, to ask you to be good enough to insert in "The Advertiser" their appeal for funds on behalf of those who have been rendered destitute by the death of relatives who perished with the loss of the Koombana, on or about March 20 last, near Bedout Island, off the north-west coast ot Western Australia, when all on board, numbering
133 persons, were drowned. Amongst the many cases of dire distress are young mothers with children entirely unprovided for, and one peculiarly sad case is that of a sailor who recently arrived in the State, whose wife and two children are now on their way out from the old land, and are expected to arrive by the Gothic. Subscription lists have been opened in almost every town of this State, and the committee respectfully appeal to the general sympathy of South Australia to aid Western Australia in relieving to some extent the distress caused by the disaster.
I am, Sir,
HENRY THOS. HAYNES,
Town Clerk and Hon. Sec Fremantle, April 20, 1912.
(We shall be pleased to receive and acknowledge subscriptions.--Ed.)
[Passengers arriving Fremantle, "Gothic" 10/4/1912, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, National Archives of Australia. K269/10 APR 1912 GOTHIC]
The list includes Mrs E Heffernan, English, aged 36, accompanied by Master E. Heffernan, aged 4.
Immediately below in the list is a Bayliff, Miss N., 21, possibly a daughter by a previous marriage.
None of the other cases of candidate surnames, or cases of women travelling with children, seem to fit.
p1
Mrs Taylor (43) + 2 (18,16). Highly unlikely! Koombana's Thomas Taylor only 31.
Mrs Page + 2
Mrs Hopkins + 2
p3
Mrs [?Maxwell] + 2
Mrs Savage + 2
Mrs A. Davies (Welsh, 37) + 3
p4
Mrs Owen + 2
p5
Mrs West + 2
Mrs G Kelly
p7
[?Mr &]Mrs Brown + 2
[?Mr &]Mrs Johnston + 3
p10
Mrs Bashford + 2
Mrs Taylor +4
p11
Mrs Stubbs + 2
Mrs A. Lyon (30) + 1 5yo
p12
Mrs Brotherton + 2
p13
[Mrs E Heffernan, 36 and Master E.,4]
AB notes:
It has to be Mrs Heffernan, I think, with 4yo Master E., and a grown-up daughter by another partner.
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
my images 496 & 497
M. A. Delahunty
38 Brackenbury Rd
East Finchley
London
England
14.5.1912
Captain Smith,
Sir,
I have had an account of the disaster of the
S.S. Koombana Please could you give me any particulars of
the crew as I was almost sure that the able seaman Heffernan
was my brother from Bristol the last time I heard from him
he was on the S.S. Boy[?n?]e in the name of Ryan.
Please will you send as much information as you can
I am the only sister to mourn for his loss.
awaiting an early reply
yours respectfully
Mrs Delahunty
Mr. Smith
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
my image 498
12th, June 1912.
Mrs. M. A. Delahunty,
38, Brackenbury Road,
East Finchley, LONDON.
England.
Dear Madam,
I am sorry to say that the man you describe as
your brother corresponds in detail to the M. Ryan, 34 years
of age, of Bristol, who was lost in the S.S. "Koombana".
Mrs. Heffernan, wife of the deceased, resides in
Fremantle, and the wages of the deceased were paid to her.
Yours faithfully,
[file copy unsigned]
DEPUTY SHIPPING MASTER.
