THE HERO OF THE RUNAWAY TRAIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 8

THE HERO OF THE RUNAWAY TRAIN.

DEATH FROM PLEURISY. (Bj Telegraph—Press Association.! Auckland, Juno 13. Mr. R. Claude, who prevented some runaway trucks from dashing into the Mam Trunk expross on Easter Monday, when the Governor was a passenger, died to-day in tho Hospital alter an attack of pleurisy.

The Main Trunk express, which left Auckland on Easter Monday evening, and which numbered his Excellency the Governor aniongsfc its passengers, narrowly escaped meeting with a serious accident shortly before reaching Westfield, between Penrose Junction and Otahuhu. A passenger train leaves Auckland for Otahuhu every evening at fivo minutes to nine, and arrives at' Otahuhu at' 9.28 p.m. It is then, shunted on to a siding,' whero.it awaits,..thejpassing,pf;'the Main Trunk express.' 'On"the evening referred to this train (consisting of four carriag&s and a van) by somo means got away after the engine had been uncoupled, and ran back on the main line down the inclino towards "Westfield. The express was nearly due, and the alarm whistle was sounded vigorously in order to at : tract .the attention, if possible, of the' driver of the express. This attracted the attention of Mr. Claude, caretaker of the Auckland Saleyards Co.'s yards at Westfield, who was in his house near tho yards at-the time. He saw the. runaway, coming down the incline from Otahuhu in ono direction, and the express coming up in the distance in the other direction. Realising tho seriousness of' the situation he ran to the railway line, leaping over two or three fences as he went. On reaching the line the runaway train had just passed, but lie ran after it, and succeeded in jumping on the rear carriage, and applying tho Westinghouso brake. The train having been brought to a standstill Mr. Claude then ran on and waved a red light, and the express was pulled ur> safely within only about three chains of the other train.