WOMAN'S HEROIC DEATH

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 452, 13 January 1914, Page 7

WOMAN'S HEROIC DEATH

IN ATTEMPTING TO SAVE A DEAF MAN. By dashing on the line m front of an approaching express train m a vain but heroic attempt to save a deaf man, Mrs Whapshott, the wife of a foreman platelayer, lost her life on November 7. She lived m a cottage by a level crossing known as the Mint, between Liphook and Lisa, Hants. (Eng.). The crossing is only an occupation one — that is, giving access between fields. The gates are kept locked, but by the side, of them is a stile. Looking out of her cottage door just as a train from London was approaching at a high rate of speed, Mrs Whapshott saw Christopher Hobbs (44), a laborer, just stepping off the stile and down to the line. She knew that he was deaf. He took no notice of the thunder of the approaching train, and evidently did not hear the whistle. Mrs Whapshott, apparently without a second thought, rushed up to warn him. Just as she reached the deaf man the train was upon them. Both were knocked over and killed instantaneously. The brave woman left four young children.