NEARLY RUN DOWN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 9

NEARLY RUN DOWN.

OLD MAN ON THE LINE. SAVED IN NICK OF TIME. A sensational escape from being killed by an engine occurred near the Gilmore street crossing on the Waihi Co.’s line. John McKeown, an old identity of Waihi, having bis life saved by the plftck and presence of mind of the engine crew. It appears that McKeown, who is an aged, man defective in bearing and sight, and who walks with difficulty, was making bis way along the line, and did not see or hear the approach of the Waihi Gold Mining Co.’s . quartz train returning to tho mino hoppers from the Waikino battery. The driver, Mr. E, Stack, repeatedly sounded tho whistle when approaching McKeown,, and was horrified to notice that the man on the track made no effort to get out of the way. Recognising the fact that nothing less than a miracle would save the old man unless prompt action was taken. Mr. Sydney Sleeman, the fireman on the engine, jumped off the footplato at great l-isft to Himself, and, seizing hold of McKeown, pushed him bodily from the track just in the nick of lime, tho engine striking Sleeman on the hip. The later, however, managed to get clear without serious injury, the driver in tho meantime applying the brakes. Mr. Sleeman states that the old man was entirely oblivious of danger, and appeared to bo groping with his stick as if endeavoring to locate the rails. Air. Sleeman’s presence of mind and plucky act undoubtedly saved the old man’s life.