DROVER’S ESCAPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 12

DROVER’S ESCAPE

HORSE BACKS OVER CLIFF RIDER CAUGHT BY TREE. Mr Rex Cook, of Melbourne, had a remarkable escape from death recently when the horse he was riding backed over a 300-foot precipice, near Dungog, New Smith Wales. With two companions he wgs, bringing a mob of bullocks from Barrington Tops to Dungog for trucking. He was riding at the head of the mob, showing the way down the descent of 5000 feet. The track in some places is very narrow, and approaching the most dangerous turn, known locally as “ the Corker,” Mr Cook, in steadying the cattle, turned his horse around. The horse backed over the edge of the cliff, and rolled 300 feet to the bottom of the gorge. Mr Cook struck a tree 20 feet down and lay there. The other drovers, Messrs J. Crosby and M'Culloch, hearing a faint cry, found Mr Cook. The accident occurred at mid-day, and Mr Crosby rode eight miles to the Barrington guest house, where a stretcherbearing party was organised. They reached Mr Cook about dusk, and carried him down the mountain side and through the dense bush. Heavy rain, darkness, and the slippery ground made the journey difficult. It was 11 o’clock at night when the guest . house was reached, and the patient received medical attention. Mr Cook was badly bruised and suffering from shock.