PERILOUS EXPERIENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4012, 11 June 1920, Page 2

PERILOUS EXPERIENCE.

BUGGY TRAPPED IN FLOOD. THREE HOURS IN DANGER. RESCUERS' BOAT SWAMPED. An alarming experience befel Mr and Mrs' Skiffington and their three infant children, and Mr Gordon Hodge, while proceeding home, to Manawaru from Te Aroha on Monday evening. Just after crossing tho WaP hou River bridge, at Wairongornai, there is a low dip in the roadway for several chains. The flood-water * hero was several feet deep. Mr Skiffington decided to attempt to to got across, but when midway the pair of horses and the buggy were washed down stream for several yards. The vehicle was stopped by contact with a flood-mark pole. Assistance was not forthcoming for some time. Finally a horseman galloped into the town for assistance. The police took out a small boat, bub tiie boat was swamped and the two occupants had to scramble ashore.

Iv the meantime Mrs Skiffington was standing in the buggy holding th© 1 children abovo water. The men wer® engaged in releasing the horses, which liot ashore, safely. Finally, after over three hours, the party was rescued not much the worse for their perilous experience.