CARRIED OUT TO SEA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1372, 21 December 1872, Page 2

CARRIED OUT TO SEA.

The following is the account given by Michael Brickley, the sailor who was carried out to sea in the Ballarat's boat at Napier, as recently reported by telegraph:—"Morangiangi, December 5, 1872. To Captain Grant! Sir— l wish to inform you of the reason of my not being on board before now. I missed the Three Brothers on Tuesday night, and seeing a boat at the wharf which I mistook for our life-boat, I jumped into her with the intention of going on board the Ballarat; but when I got outside *he Pot and found myself drifting, I found she had no sails on board. The wind being off the shore, with a very strong current, I found myself passing the ship very quick. I did so" I tried to keep her head" to sea until morning ; but in the morning I found 1 had drifted a long way off. I could scarce see the land; I was in an open boat, without water or food or sail, and with oars too long and heavy for one man to use. Then the wind died away to a calm, and afterwards blew strong from the N.E. I took my coat and shirt, and mado them into a sail. I shipped one of the oars as a mast, rove the boat-hook through both sleeves of my coat, and made it fast to the oar. The boat then rau before the wind ; there I sat in the sun, wind, and spray. Thoro was a heavy sea on, with breakers. At dusk got close to the ahore— heavy surf rolling. While running before the sea the boat griped very hard to windward, and I of course was straining every nerve to keep her straight on, when the oar broke in the small put of the blade. This accident of course capsized the boat and threw me into the sea. I reached the boat again by swimming, only to be thrown on the rocks with violence. There I stayed all night, among the rocks, wet through and without clothes or food— now 36 hours. I could not find my way on land, there being very high cliffs at the place where I was I then gave myself up for lost, but determined to swim as Jong as I could. I utruck out up tho coast, and after swimming two miles went whore, and, tired and weak, 1 tried to make my way over the rocks. Presently I saw three Maori [women, who ran away on seeing me. I followed them and came to MorangiangL The people here are very kind. lam very sick, being exposed for 48 hours without food or clothes. If I feel better I ahall start for Napier on the 7th instant. If not, I will go down in the boat on Monday next, with the people who I am stopping with. No more at present from your humble servant, Michael Brickley."