A NARROW ESCAPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 135, 20 March 1935, Page 7

A NARROW ESCAPE

STEEL BAR FALLS 1000 FEET.

MISSES GIRL BY INCHES. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Hurtling to eairth at a terrific speed, a screw picket which had fallen from an aeroplane 1000 feet above, just missed Miss Taylor, a daughter of Mr E. M. Taylor, of 503 Barrington Street, as she stood in the garden of 1 her home. Passing within inches of Miss Taylor, the sharp steel projectile buried itself deep into the ground, taking with it the mooring n ope which was tied to its hilt. It is understood that the police are making inquiries into the circumstances of the mishap.

Although Miss Taylor escaped injury, she received a great shock, and when a reporter called at her home last night to see her, her father said 'that she was unwell and* was in bed. Immediately the pilot returned to the club’s hangar at Sockburn, herealised that something untoward had happened as the tool-box in which the pickets are carried was open. He returned by motor to the Spreydon district, over which lie had been flying, and made diligent inquiries to satisfy himself that no serious accident had taken place. Weighing between 21b and 31b, the picket which fell is about .18 inches in length and is part of the normal equipment of the ’plane, being used, with its rope, for anchoring the machine in the case of a landing at a place where no cover is available. It is oi spiral construction, being similar in shape to a large spring, with a straight hilt which includes an eye to which the mooring rope is attached.