DOG ON GUARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 10

DOG ON GUARD

OWNER UNCONSCIOUS BULLS KEPT AT BAY RESCUERS GUIDED TO SPOT NIGHT IN OPEN AFTER FALL _ Rendered unconscious by a fall 'from his horse on the station of Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, at South Head, Kaipara, late on Thursday afternoon, an employee, Mr.. Ernest Williamson, aged 24, was found shortly after daybreak yesterday, when rescuers were guided to where ho was lying by the furious barking of his dog. The animal was'keeping at bay two bulls which wore circling about Mr. Williamson as fie lay unconscious. ' The injured man, who was suffering from concussion, was brought to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance. His condition last evening was fairly serious. Mr. Williamson left one of the several homesteads on the station late on Thursday afternoon, to transfer some sheep from one paddock to another. He was riding, and his dog was with him. No anxiety was felt when he failed to return in the evening, as it was thought he had gone to one of the other houses to spend the night. Shortly after daybreak yesterday, other employees on the station noticed Mr. Williamson's horse, still saddled, near the house, although there was no sign of its rider. It was then realised that a mishap had occurred, and a search was oommenced. About a mile from the house, the searcher's were attracted by the furiouß barking of a dog. They found the animal standing guard over Mr. Williamson, who was lying unconscious in the long grass, with two bulls close at hand. It was evident that Mr. Williamhorse had slipped down a shallow bank, throwing its rider, who appeared to have been lying unconscious for over 12 hours.

A motor-car owned by one of the employees was driven across the paddocks with some difficulty. At oqe stage it skidded out of control and struck a fence, but- eventually the injured man was reached. He was placed in the car and taken to a house on the station about five miles from the road. A St. John ambulance was summoned. andjeft Auckland at 8.45 a.m. In order to reach his patient, the driver had tfl travel'across paddocks for about five miles after leaving the road> Mr. Williamson was placed in the ambulance and brought to Auckland, being admitted to the hospital about 3.30 p.m.