["The Koombana", The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 04 May 1912, page 6]
INQUIRY CONTINUED.
BEDOUT LIGHT EXTINGUISHED
WEEK BEFORE THE STORM.
Perth, April 27.
Yesterday at the inquiry into the loss of the Koombana, Mr. Moss, representing the Adelaide S.S. Company, stated that Captain Upjohn said the Koombana's propellor on leaving Hedland was "well" submerged, instead of "not" submerged, as reported.
The manager of the Adelaide S.S. Company said the company had been informed that Bedout Island light was extinguished on March 13, and was observed to be still extinguished on the 14th and 15th. It was hard to say what bearing the absence of this light may have had on the disaster. Their experience was that self-attended lights were not to be depended on. In his opinion the vessel did not strike Bedout Island, as if she did wreckage would be found there. It was possible she struck it and foundered elsewhere.
