With his life in great danger, he was secretly, with his wife and family, put on board the "Kinfauns Castle", bound for the Cape, and sailed on 6 July under the name of Power. On board the same ship was Patrick O'Donnell, a bricklayer. He became friendly with Carey, without knowing who he was. After stopping off in Cape Town, he was informed by chance of the real identity of Carey. He continued with Carey on board the "Melrose" for the voyage from Cape Town to Natal, and when the vessel was 12 miles off Cape Vaccas, on 29 July 1883, using a pistol he had in his luggage, shot Carey dead.