SENSATIONAL BOLT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 5

SENSATIONAL BOLT.

QUEEN STREET DISTURBED.

TIMBER WAGON'S WILD CAREER. CYCLIST'S PLUCKY ACTION. With, a thrilling dash tlia,fc was reminiscent of "Ben Hur," two horses attached to a timber wagon raced up Queen's wharf, through the central gates and along Queen Street, shortly after eleven o'clock to-day. Excitement reached its highest point, as the galloping pair cleared the gates and pre : cipitated themselves into the noon-day traffic in the vicinity of the General Post Office. > The thrill ended with a "save" which called forth the admiration of spectators. A motor cyclist, about to mount his machine, dashed out from the front of the Post Office, seized the trailing reins and, after being dragged a considerable distance, succeeded in stopping the runaways. The limber, belonging to Mr. W. Lovett, of Ponsonby Road, was being loaded with timber from a stack iu the central space of. the wharf. When the driver was some distance from the vehicle the horses, startled by a sudden ; escape of steam from a ferry boat, suddenly bolted. They cleared the central space, swerved to the right and made down the centre of the crowded wharf. There was a hurried scattering . of traffic as the horses made for the main central gates, which they cleared instinctively. Here their training showed to advantage as they made directly for the correct side of the street. Another scattering of traffic ensued. When opposite the railway entrance a motor cyclist, Mr. Eoger Jenkins, an employee of Messrs. Skeates and White, at this stage dashed to the centre of the road and seized the reins. He was dragged for a considerable distance before one horse felt to its knees, checking the onrush of the vehicle. The other horse suddenly baulked, was jerked round, pulling the limber to the kerb. In the confusion which followed Mr. Jenkins quietly disappeared and it was only through subsequent inquiry that his identity was ascertained. The horses were taken back to the wharf by an old team driver, who had followed them, and, chastened by their experience, the}' were last seen standing quietly awaiting their driver's next command.