COOK'S ORDEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 8, 10 July 1939, Page 11

COOK'S ORDEAL

FIVE-HOUR JOURNEY

CRAWLED ON STOMACH THROUGH SNOW

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ASHBURTON, This Day. An agonising journey of half a mile that took over five hours to accomplish covered on his stomach through three inches of snow and while snow was falling was the experience of Thomas Taylor, aged 50, cook at Glen Fallock Station, Rakaia Gorge, yesterday morning after a horse had kicked him, causing a suspected broken thigh. Mr. Taylor was the only person at the station at the time. The accident happened at 10 a.m. and it was 3 p.m. before he reached the house. He managed to get inside, remove his clothing, and crawl into bed. Two other occupants of the house, Messrs. Hector Urquhart and J. Rouse, did not return till 11.30 p.m. After giving Mr. Taylor tea and food, tney placed him in a car packed with mattresses and blankets and a start for Ashburton was made at 2 a.m. in a freezing temperature. The first 20 miles were the worst, as there was little more than a track, over shingle and numerous streams. The greater part of this section was traversed in second gear, Mr. Taylor joking with his companions as the car jolted from one rut to another. Ashburton was reached at 8 a.m. today.