FIGHT IN A SIGNAL-BOX

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 88, 2 June 1911, Page 6

FIGHT IN A SIGNAL-BOX

NEARLY A DSAS' I ’ER. A Grilling account of ’ ow a fair disaster was narrowly a/cried ...i* gn. on at Biidgend, when t \ o . o’lrorm mined Arthur Thomas amt David Hal linger, or Koihg Hill, woe eat h him 1 :„l or ]■} da is’ for ires,) >s« .n d _A.t to j'rison for six weeks for a'•nulling I.'mid Watki rignalm mi at bios Uhrk, a lonely spot bet. - on Km'lg Hill and Bridgend, on :iio •v,mi G.’tv.t Western line from Pa.'Mi igtrra to Fishguard. W'atkins said that at LI.JO the p-t----r ions night Ballinger came in, asked him for a drink of water, and told him that he had a friend wno v,as dying. Ho asked who the 1 friend was, whereupon Ballinger said it aas a joke. He tried In assist Ballinger along the line, as ho was drunk, but Ballinger turned on him and attacked him. Thomas then appeared on the scone, and Watkins returned to his cabin. Ballinger followed him up the steps and Watkins hurled him down, entered Ins cabin, and held the door to. The telephone bell was signalling tho Neyland goods train going throngi and Watkins had to leave the door f go to tho telephone. Ballinger aim Thomas then rushed in and throw him down. Ho struggled with then for a long time, and eventually man aged to get to tho instrument, am. return the ring. Doth men caught hold of signal sticks ,and one of thorn took the poke from the liro-grate and commence! heating him with it. Ho was strug gling with his assailants for about 25 minutes. Ho hoard ,tho Neyland goods trail coming along, and with great difficult; managed to hang out a danger-signal lamp. Ballinger kicked tno lain]., down, afterwards jumping out throng tho window and running off. Tho goods train was pulled up nca; the signal-box, and the driver, no tiring the struggle, came and lie]pec Watkins to hold Thomas. After wards Watkins and- another nuu. chased Ballinger and caught him.