FALL FROM TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume cxxiv, Issue 148, 20 December 1937, Page 13

FALL FROM TRAIN

JOCKEY'S EXPERIENCE

NIGHT SPENT IN HUT

Superficial bruises and; abrasions were suffered by Mr. Michael'Stewart", jockey, of Clarence Street, Ponsonby, when he fell from the AucklahdrWellington express on Friday night under, unusual circumstances, states -the Mercer correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald." . Mr. Stewart does not remember what happened from .the time he left his. seat in the train, . at about 9.30 p.m. to go to another .compartment until he woke, at daylight on Saturday morning to find himself In a duck-shooter's hut. about two; chains from the railway line. /. .''. T-\". "'■

When the train .was. between .Polven'o; and Te .Kauwhata, Mr." Stewart,. ,on leaving his seat 'in the carriage, evi--dently opened the outside" door in mistake, and. steppe.d. out ..of. the fast: moving train. It is thought that, he rolled down .a bank at the side of the traclc-and. was scratched .by ; blackberries. ....'..

On word being received at Mercer on Friday evening about 9.30 o'clock that he had disappeared from the train, Constable H. J. Olsen, of Mercer, and five of the railway hands residing there made a comprehensive search north towards Pokeno, and south towards Whangamarino and Te Kauwhata, but no trace was found of Mr. Stewart.

The hut in.which Mr. Stewart found himself lying on a'wire mattress, is; on a point of land against the swamp and is screened by trees.. A fenpe: encloses the area, and as the gate was shut the searchers concluded that the missing man could, not have; ' been through and that consequently there was no need to look there. This locality is four miles south of Mercer and a little north of Whangamarino station. Mr. D. Cronin, surfaceman at Whangamarino, . was coming north along the track' on Saturday morning -.when he met the missing man walking south. He rendered first aid and brought him on.a jigger into. Mercer,: arriving about 8.30 a.m. ." .".". :..' Mr. Stewart boarded a: train .at. Mercer with- the indention of comple.U ing his journey to Te Awamutu. to-fulfil riding engagements at the 'races. on Saturday. ; • However, he -took- an or-: portunity of being examined:" by. ■'a doctor who was oh the train. , On tTie doctor's advice Mr.Stewart'entere'd.the Waikato Hospital on the arrival of the. train at Frankton. , His condition - is not regarded as serious.