TRAIN'S NARROW ESCAPE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 227, 18 June 1908, Page 7

TRAIN'S NARROW ESCAPE.

(BY TELEGRAPH,—SPECI.iL CORRESPONDENT.) m , Masterton, Juno 17. Tho prcsenco of mincl of Mr. T. .Wilson, engine driver, on Monday evening probably saved tho Waipukurau-Dannevirke train from an awful disaster. It appears that wkilo the train was steaming down the inclino to Piripiri, Wilson noticed far ahead a horse galloping along the lino towards Mangatcra. As the train overhauled it the fugitive suddenly disappeared from view. For a moment or .two tho engino driver was at a loss to account for such a strango disappearance, till the possibility dawned upon him that tho horse had run on Jlangatera viaduct and fallen between tho sleepers. Realising that the horse would liavo inevitably stuck fast, Wilson applied the AVestinghouse brake and pulled .up tho train just a few yards from tho bridge. His surmise proved correct, as the horso was discovered firmly hold between tho sleepers, and in such a manner that, had tho locomotive struck it, tho train must havo beon throws to tho bottom of tho underlying ravine, several hundred feet below. to reloaso tho animal in a live condition /proved- unsuccessful, and were abandoned and the poor creature' had to ho shot. X good deal of timo was subsequently taken un in romoving tho carcnso, and the train eventually arrived at Donnevirko an hour lato.