NEWS OF THE MISSING SAILOR.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1500, 7 December 1872, Page 2

NEWS OF THE MISSING SAILOR.

Our readers will be pleased to hear that Michael Bricjdey, the mining seaman of the barque Ballarat, has been heard of. Captain Grant has received a letter, which we publish below, from the man himself, who is'now lyiug sick at Moeangiangi. The beaver of the letter has endorsed upon the envelope fthat it was given to him by a man f"near dead," which, however, we hope, is an exaggeration. Moeangiangi, December 5, 1872. To Captain Grant. *gi rj —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 1 got outside the Pot and found myself drifting, I form J 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. 1 did my utmost to regain the vessel or get on shore, so T tried to keep her head to the sea until morning; but in the morning I found I 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. 1 took off my coat and shirt, and made them into a sail. I shipped one of the oars as a mast, rove the boathook through both, sleeves of my coat, and made it fast on the oar. The boat then ran before the wind ; there I sat in the sun, wind and spray. There was a heavy sea on, with breakers. At dusk got close to the shore—heavy surf rolling. While running before the sea the boat griped very Lard to windward, and I of course was straining every nerve to keep her straight on, when the oar broke in the small part near the blade. This accident of course capsized the boat an;.! threw me into the sea. 1. reached the boat again by swimming, only to be thrown on the rocks with violence. There I slaved all night, among the rocks, wet through and without clothes or food—now 36 hoivs. T could not find my way on land, there being very high cliffs at the place where I was. I then gave my self up for lost, but determined to swim as long as I could. I struck out up the coast, and after swimming 2 miles went ashore, and, tired and weak, 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 Moeangiangi. The people here are very kind. I am very sick, being exposed for 48 hours without food or clothes. If I feel better I shall stmt for Napier on the 7th inst. If not, I will go down in the boat on Monday next, with the people who I am stopping with. No more at piesent, from your humble servant, Michael Brickley.