["A Pearler's Perilous Experience", The West Australian, Wednesday 29 April 1908, page 7]
A PEARLER'S PERILOUS EXPERIENCE.
The first advice of the disaster was received by Mr. E. H. Bardwell, Registrar of Mining Companies. Mr. Bardwell resides at Claremont, and shortly after 10 o'clock on Monday night he received a telegram from his son, Mr. B. E. Bardwell, who recently left Broome for the pearling grounds in his lugger Phyllis, stating that the fleet had been caught in a typhoon and destroyed. When leaving Broome for the Ninety-mile Beach Mr. Bardwell wrote to his father informing him that he would not hear from him again for four months, and that the prospects of a successful season were bright. This telegram of Monday evening naturally gave rise to grave fears. He intimated that of his crew, numbering six, he was the only one to reach land, and this was accomplished after a four-hours struggle in the storm. Many boats were driven ashore, whilst a number of others were overturned and sunk. Being somewhat familiar with the coast in the vicinity of La Grange Bay he walked inland and reached Mr. Eacott's station, three miles distant, clad only in a shirt. He lost everything. The boat was laden with diving gear and a large supply of stores. At Mr. Eacott's station Mr. Bardwell received every attention, and arrangements were made to search for and succour any other survivors. Mr. Bardwell had engaged a diver and Malay crew at Broome. The name of the former was unknown to Mr. Bardwell, sen.
