STRUGGLE ON CLIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22195, 23 August 1935, Page 5

STRUGGLE ON CLIFF

WOMAN AND A MAN SIGNALMAN TO RESCUE The signalman on duty at South Head, Sydney, lately had to leave tho signal station to race to tho assistance of a woman, who was struggling with a man near the edge of the dill's. A middle-aged, well-dressed man of I slight build, was seen hurrying along the road, near the South Head LightI house, between the lighthouse and the j signal station he leit the road and climbed up a small embankment on to the top ot tho dill, all tho time talking to himself. A woman and a boy on a bicycle who were close by thought that his actions seemed strange, and followed him. They overtook him about 50 yards from tho edge of tho cliff, and as lie seemed disposed to go on, took a firm hold of his clothing. Tho man struggled violently. A few minutes later Mr. It. J3ell, who was on duty at the signal station, hoard an excited hail, and an appeal for assistance. Calling to a colleague to take his place, ho raced along the cliff edge, until he found the man and the woman still struggling, and, with some difficulty, got the man to the signal station, where he detained him until the arrival of the police.. There was a curious sequel to the incident at the police station about half an hour later. A constable took the man to the station, still struggling and talking wildly. In the station he grew calmer, said that he had a violent headache, and asked for n headache powder. He was given one, and in less than .'SO seconds was asleep in a chair. The amazed policeman was at first doubtful, but soon established that the sleep was real. About an hour afterwards the man was awakened. He seemed dazed and puzzled, and asked the police how he came to be in the station. He said that he was a married man with three children. and that recently he had been worried bv violent headaches. He claimed that he had no knowledge of what had happened earlier in the day.