QRISY RIVER.

West Coast Times, Issue 645, 18 October 1867, Page 2

QRISY RIVER.

High Wateb This Day. — 12 52 a.m.; 1.17 p.m. THE WRECK AT THE PIEMAN", AND RESCUE OF THE LAST MAN. The following lelter appears in the "Launceston Examiner :" — " With reference to my former letter of the Bth inst, I am now happy to inform you that the seaman, Francis Surrey, who was left at the Pieman River since the wreck of the Moyne, on the Ist Juno last, has arrived at the Duck River, near Circular Head, and is on board the schooner Pat the Rover, bouuel for Melbourne. ' I have not seen him, but from a variety of sources am enabled to furnish you with the following authentic information. "Mr Brown, of Wooluorth, having been selected to proceed to the Pieman, obtained tho services of Mr James Wilson find nnotlier good bushman. On reaching Mount Cameron, about twenty mile 3 beyond Wooluorth, Wilson fouud that the man hud just reached a shepherd's hut ou the Woolnovth esLnte. fifteen or twenty miles distant from that place. It appears from Surrey's statement that, on finding that no vessel csune for him, and that his scanty supply of provisions would toon fail, he determined to endeavor to make his way toWoolnorth, and made no less than three unsuccessful voyages iv a small and leaky boat, which had been left at a previous wreck, and which he tried to render more suitable by placing a top planking round her. He reached Sandy Cape on one occasion, aud was driven from thence by adverse winds to Macquarie Harbour. At a second time he again got to Sandy Cape, andmust have been there when Captain Pallant, of the Pat the Rover, was off the Pieman, on the 4th September ; from thence contrary winds compollcd him to retreat to his old quarter at the last named river. He therefore abandoned die idea of attempting to effect his escape with the boat, and determined "once more to venture by land, being urged to do so by approaching starvation. Fortunately, after twelve day 3* travelling over a barren and wet country, he succeeded in reaching the shepherd's hut before named. On crossing the rivei 1 Arthur, on a frail cataniarau, ho was carried down a mile, and whirled round and round iv tke current, and only reached the opposite side when close to the breakers, thus narrowly escaping being drowned l . His only companion was a little dog, which he thought he might be driven to kill for food ; but tho dog suffered, more than liis master. He only killcl one wallaby, though kangaroo were numerous, and got some shell-fish on the coast. These additions to his scanty stock of food enabled Surrey to reach the north side of the Arthur, when he found iimsolf without a particle of provisions of any kiud, and gave himself up despair ; but the next day ho saw some sheep and became a new man in. a moment — so powerfully does tho mind act upon ; the body ; he therefore pushed on with renewed vigour until he reached the shepherd's hut, where he was kindly entertained for two nights. From Mount Cameron Mr Wilson fhrnished him with a horse to Woolnorth, where he again rested four days ; from thonce ho was conducted to Mr Evan's, at the Montague, stopping one night; and lastly to the Duck River, ten miles west of Circular Head. Surrey is about fifty years of age, and he states that he would have accompanied she three men overland but for an accident on board the wrecked vessel, having received an injury on the foot from which he suffered much pain. He also states that ho saw the skeleton of a mau on the West Coast ; though upon this point I may remark that Mr Quiggau, of Table Cape, a year or two ago, when performing a journey overland to the Pieman, saw three skeletons, which he covered with sand, generally supposing tho bones to have been from the men drowned in the Rebecca,! several years previously; and it is possible these may be the same remains noticefl by-, the ether three men, uncovered by the winds. Surrey had beon without tea and sugar for a : long time, but had plenty of tobacco ; and, like Robinson Crusoe, had to make his clothes and boots from old sails, which again added to his difficulties in walking over wet and rough ground at the winter season ; and to make matters still worse, his smnll stock of flour or biscuit had been damaged by salt water during his boat expedition. I am, Sir, youra faithfully, " S. B. Ejmett. "Sept. 22."