DRAGGED BY HORSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22988, 16 March 1938, Page 12

DRAGGED BY HORSES

FARM HAND'S PLIGHT

CHAINED TO BOLTING TEAM STRUGGLE TO REGAIN CONTROL [by telegraph—OWN correspondent! HAMILTON, Tuesday With an iron chain twisted around his ankle, a farm hand, Mr. Lan Melville, aged 28. employed on the farm of Mr. Halliburton Johnstone, at Whatawhata. was dragged by a team of three horses for about a quarter of a mile over hilly country this afternoon. Only Mr. Melville's persistency in striving to grasp the reins and regain control of the bolting horses saved him from more serious injury. Accompanied by a Maori employee, Mr. Melville was working in paddocks some distance from the homestead, carting manure on a sledge drawn by the three horses. When the load had been distributed, the lightened sledge! became out of control on a fairly steep grade and its course was diverted uphill by the Maori. This resulted in the long plough chains becoming unhooked from the swingle-trees. The frightened team bolted, and when the horses charged down on Mr. Melville one of the chains . whipped around his legs. Over rough and steep country the horses dragged him until his repeated efforts to grasp the training reins were successful and he was able to pull in the team and release himself. Mr. Melville was found to be suffering from severe lacerations of a leg and extensive abrasions to the chest. He was removed to the Waikato Hospital j in a St. John ambulance, and his condition to-night was reported to be not serious.