RAILWAY INCIDENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 107, 6 April 1926, Page 6

RAILWAY INCIDENT

BOTTLE HURLED AT DRIVER. NEAR TERRACE END STATION. STRANGE sequence of events. Another of the menacing railroad incidents which have caused the public of Palmerston North so much concern during the past month occurred near the 1 Terrace End railway station about 930 last evening when one of two young men standing on the side of the track hurled a bottle of liquid at tfie engine-driver of. the mconm, train from Napier, missing his head train approached the vicinity the men in the engine cab perceived two young men on the driver s side of the track, apparently engaged in a wrestling bout. Upon coming closer it was seen that the pair were in possession of a bottle, and when tlio engine was right opposite one of them drew back with the bottle in Ins hand and hurled it at the head or tlio driver (Mr Lewin). The missile was fairly accurately aimed and only missed its objective by a few inches, striking the upper ledge of the cab back of Mr Lewin s head, and smashmg to pieces on the ironwork. The liquid which it contained sprayed over the tender and a little of it fell into the cab. The supposition that the men wore under the influence of liquor was dispelled when they made oft in company, running swiftly, before identification and possible capture could be made reasonably certain. It was hopeless-to attempt pursuit and the train continued on its journey into the Palmerston North station. Later an examination was made of the. liquid from t]ie broken bottle, the meagre samples, while giving a smell similar to that of alcohol, yet not bearing the appearance of any alcoholic beverage. It is at once apparent to anyone that if a bottle, however thrown, hits a man in the engine cab when a train is proceeding at a speed of 80 miles an hour or so the results must inevitably be serious to a degree. The incident may or may not be connected with the four attempts to wreck trains during the past month, by placing cattle stop beams across the rails, but it is a serious matter and is being made the subject of police investigation. Asked by a “Standard” reporter this morning whether lie could state what measures were being taken to safeguard the lives of Hie railwayman and the public, and to bring to book the miscreants in view of these repeated grave ' offences, the stationmastcr (Mr J. J. O’Shea) replied “not at tlio present juncture.” There is reason to suppose, however, that the department is taking action and the police, of course, have been conducting investigations in the ordinary course of events ever since tho first attempted derailment on the night of March 8, when sets of cattle stop rails were laid across the metals at two crossings in the path of tin* Limited express.