On the 3rd inst.1 a boat manned by Captain Clark2 and two men started from the Government dredge Fitzroy, for another dredge. The boys mentioned, the second being a son of Captain Clark, were allowed to accompany them. The boat capsized on the M'Leay bar3 and the two men started to swim ashore. One soon disappeared4 and is supposed to have been taken by a shark, the other returned to the capsized boat in an exhausted condition. My boy (against the captain's advice) then started for the shore, and Grant, believing that they would all perish under any circumstances, agreed to let his son5 follow. Captain Grant then followed the boys, but, not being equal to the task, returned to the wreck with the surviving man. Meanwhile they saw a large shark near the hoys, and the poor little fellows also saw the monster, hut they continued on. My son, who is a remarkably strong and fast swimmer, could have left the younger lad far behind, but in response to the latter's wish he kept by his side until within a short distance of the land when a wave separated them. My son landed at the feet of some gentlemen who were bathing, and who, up to that moment, knew nothing about the accident. The drifting boat was by this time nearly out of sight and could only be discerned by the aid of binocular. It so happened, however, that one of the gentlemen on the beach had a horse ready saddled, by the aid of which the Trial Bay Gaol, about a mile and a half distant, was soon reached, and the life boat sent to the rescue of Captain Grant and his man, who were brought in very much exhausted. It is admitted that they would have perished had it not been for the bravery and endurance of the boys.6
The month is confirmed by a news item describing the incident in Evening news (Sydney), 6 January 1896, p. 3.
Error for Grant? The Evening news and other reports refer to Captain Grant.
The entrance to Trial Bay from the Macleay River, NSW.
Named as Martin Gunner in the Evening news account.
Adam Grant, according to Evening news. Neither Captain Grant nor Adam Grant further identified.
The news item concludes: 'Doubtless the pluck and endurance of both lads in thus having saved their own lives and those of the others deserves recognition by the Royal Humane Society.'
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'A brave lad', Weekly times, 25 January 1896, p. 13. It is introduced by
TWO BOYS SWIM TWO MILES AND SAVE MEN'S LIVES. Mr William Macdonald, of Kempsey. N.S.W., writes to Baron von Mueller a short account of the manner in which his son Henry, aged thirteen, swam a distance of two miles, with another boy aged eleven, from a capsized boat in Trial Bay. He says:—‘.
Please cite as “FVM-96-01-00a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on