Details:
Escaped from Newcastle settlement with J. Hughes and John Coleman. Apprehended near Hawkesbury having been speared and mis treated by the natives
Details:
Yesterday evening arrived the sloop Edwin from Hawkesbury, with three men on board, picked up at the sand reach near to Broken Bay, who had effected a temporary escape from King s Town : they were last night lodged in a place of security. The names of these people are J. Hughes alias McCarthy, John Coleman, and EDWARD MUNDY, the two latter of whom were in so exhausted a state as to be incapable of re- counting their hardships, though they tacitly admitted that to the exertions of the former they were beholden for their present miserable existence. They absconded from King s Town last Tuesday se nnight, with 4lbs. of flour and 2lbs. of salt provision each, with a romantic and in all respects absurd design of crossing the country for these Settlements ; but after a few hours travel were obliged to seek shelter from a tremendous storm that lasted the whole of that and the following day. On Thursday they renewed their travel toward the mountains, but were soon surprised by a ferocious band of natives, who announced their approach with a flight of spears, one of which entered the right temple of Coleman. A second assault was prepared, when the wretched travellers prostrating themselves requested mercy, which they purchased with the whole of their apparel and remaining provision, with a possibility of replacing it. The wounded man being from loss of blood and extreme anguish unable to proceed, two entire days were lost, as the others determined to remain with him until he should expire or somewhat recover ; on the Sunday they resumed their progress toward the mountains, but were too much reduced by the long want of food to hope the accomplishment of a design, which when accomplished could have availed but little. The sudden appearance of a second group of natives however, presented new horrors ; but as death appeared inevitable, it mattered nought what shape it might assume. They were already naked and distressed, and had nothing that could provoke assassination ; the mercy they implored was granted with contempt and insult ; nay one of the natives who d probably experienced civility from his opposites in colour, directed them towards the sea coast, where the unfortunate men proposed the protracting the event of death by such sustenance as shell fish might afford. When at no greet distance from the attainment of this object, Coleman and Mundy becoming more and more languid, sunk and implored that death would terminate their complicated miseries. The folly and madness of their rash attempt smote them with horror and compunction, and to be re- stored to the situation they had abandoned would have been a blessing, now beyond the very reach of hope. Hughes, confounded and dismayed, desirous of self preservation, yet unwilling to abandon them in their last extremity, resolved to proceed toward the sea shore, where he collected some little shell fish, and returned with it to his associates, who he found extended, and almost bereft of sense. His only hope he derived from the possibility of being rescued by a passing vessel, and heaven was pleased to render instrumental the above in snatching them all from death, perhaps that by the un- blandished story of their sufferings others might be warned against an imprudence at the dreadful consequences of which humanity must shudder.
