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Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 766, 25 September 1878, Page 2

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Duncan Young, for many years boatman and lately night-watchman _at Oamaru, was solved yesterday morning when his body was discovered floating in the harbor. Exercising the hopefulness which smoothes the roughness off many a worldly trouble, those to whom he was near and dear, and many who had appreciated him for his good qualities, cherished the belief to the last moment that he had, through circumstances over which he had no control, been carried away from his wife and children in one of the 'vessels that left this port at the time of his disappearance, It was only natural that those who were dearer to him than life itself, should, when the shocking news of his disappearance was borne to them, conclude that he had, while performing his duties, been, by some mistake, carried away either by the Garron or the Crest of the Wave. They refused to believe that he had mat with his death in the element with which he had ao long been familiar whilst there was a shred of hope to I'a.vor the view that he was still alive. How keen the grief of his widow and orphans was when the unwelcome and mysterious I tidings of a little over a month ago culmij nated in the sad discovery of yesterday 1 morning only those who have met with i similar bitter experience can form any idea, A month's fond hope swept away in one moment, r.r.d the stern reality laid bare that they were tiusbandless and fatherless. What does this mean <■• T; Duncan Young's wife and sev rai •:i" dren are deprived of their bread-«'!.,.... and casit upon the world's charity. I This the moot God-like of all human attributes is not wanting in the hearts of the people of this colony. That they are ever ready to assist the needy has been only lately clearly demonstrated, and for this reason we are hopeful that the widow j and orphans of poor Duncan Young will | not be suffered to waut. We would carry i the minds of those of our readers who j were here whan the Star of Tasmania was i driven ashore back to that event. On j that occasion there was found a man who needed no guiding, no pat on the back, or incentive of any kind, to send him forI ward to the performance of his duty ; a i man who imperilled his own life in order i to save the lives of others ; a man who was worthy o-r tks name. That man was Duncan Young. He in beyond our reward now ; but we could do something for those he has left behind. Let us pay such, a tribute of appreciation to the memory of a man who, for his manliness, won the regard < f ail who knew him while he 'lived, and who died while in the execution of his duty.