SAD FATALITY AT MARTIN BAY.

Evening Star, Issue 7387, 6 December 1887, Page 4

SAD FATALITY AT MARTIN BAY.

The many friends of Captain Robert Brelmer, who formerly traded out of this port in several small coasting vessels, will regret to hear that there are grave fears of his having lost his life while attempting to cross the bar at Martin Bay in Ms boat, the Try Again, on November 17, in company with three others, who, it is believed, also lost their lives. Captain Brebner left Port Chalmers nearly a year ago to join Sutherland’s gold-seeking party at the West Coast Sounds.- He afterwards dissolved his connection with them, and formed another party for searching for the precious metals. He was returning from one of these expeditions to Big Bay (where ho had been prospecting) in company with three of his mates named Richardson, Perry, and Carl Woolf, and was seen making for the entrance of Martin Bay by Miss M'Kcnzie, the daughter of the local storekeeper, who called her father’s attention to the fact of Captain Brebner being about to cross the bar. Shortly afterwards Miss M'Kenzie, lost eight of the boat, and on stating this her father and brothers at once went down to the beach to ascertain if the boat’s crew had crossed the bar. Nothing, however, was seen of them, and shortly afterwards a piece of the boat bearing the name “ Try Again,” with a swag and opossum rug, recognised as belonging to Captain Brebner, were picked up. Nothing, however, has since been seen of the occupants of the boat, who it is feared met an untimely death on November 17. Captain Brebner’a family are old and respected residents of Port Chalmers, his parents being amongst the earliest settlers. He was universally respected, and his untimely death will be greatly deplored by his large circle of friends. The mother of Walter Richardson, one of those who was with Captain Brebner at the time, is believed to reside at Outram. Of the other me n—Carl Woolf and Edward Perrynothing is known.