A Maori Hero.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1566, 10 April 1874, Page 179

A Maori Hero.

The Melbourne Leader of the 14th March, says:—There are deeds in the lives of men that lift them above the common level of humanity. Who fails to remember the heroism of the gallant Marr, of the Rip disaster, who in a supreme moment of danger abandoned what seemed his only hope of life in order that his comrades in extremity might not perish ? An illustration of heroism such as his is rarely paralleled, but to the credit of humanity, the list is not yet filled that records the deeds of noble chivalry. In the recent accident at Sydney, where a fishingboat capsized at the Heads, and four men were in peril of their lives in a raging sea, we find a story that would do houor to 'any country. In this instance, one of the heroeß is not a European, but a poor despised Maori, a man in whom society would declare the disposition of the savage to be supreme and unchangeable* Let the record attest the contrary, and Ist it suggest whether civilized society is warranted in looking down upon a race, a member of which is capable of reaching the highest moral achievements as exhibited in a sublime willingness to sacrifice himself for another's safety. When the slfifT capsized there were but three oars, one of which floated past two men, Humphries and Blanket, the former a European, the latter an aboriginal Maori, between sixty and seventy years of age. For the two men to attempt to save themselves by means of this single oar was folly. The Maori realized this, and said to the other, " Pat, you take the oar, you have a wife and children, I have none. I'm an old man, never mind me." Humphries replied, "No, Blanket, you are old and weak. lam young and strong," and abandoning the frail support, Humphries dashed out for the shore, which he reached after three hours'battling with the raging sea, Blanket landing on nearly tho same spot some thirty-five minutes after him. The story is one of the most touching- instances of friendship and heroism that has probably over been recorded in this hemisphere.