["Telegrams", Geraldton Express (WA), Monday 20 May 1912, page 3]
Telegrams.
The Koombana Disaster.
A Sensational Statement.
Newspaper Proprietor's Story.
Implications of a Serious Nature.
Perth, May 20.
Mr. W. H. Barker, the proprietor of the "Port Hedland Advocate," in a report, states that he had just read the finding of the Koombana Inquiry Board. He says that the statement that the steamer, when she left Port Hedland, was drawing 19 ft. aft was not consistent in accordance with what the harbourmaster had told him. The harbour-master's assertion was that the vessel was drawing 11 feet forward and 16 feet aft. As to the statement that there was no particular evidence to indicate the likelihood of bad weather, Mr. Barker says that before the Koombana sailed form Hedland, the people there were battening down and preparing for a gale and forty luggers had run into the creek from outside for shelter. Furthermore, Capt. Allen told him (Mr. Barker) that he did not know whether he would go out, as he did not like the glass. He was palpably uneasy and disinclined to go. He remarked: "The passengers think that they will get to Broome to-morrow (Thursday) but they will be lucky if they get there by Saturday. I am going right out to sea."
Mr. Barker adds that the Koombana as she rolled through the harbor entrance, had an ugly list to port.
Mr. Barker was not called to give evidence at the inquest.
Within the last ten days the air-tight tanks from a lifeboat have been found on the beach.
