THE FEARLESS PRINCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 4

THE FEARLESS PRINCE

CATCHES A RUNAWAY THRILL IN HUNTING FIELD The Prince of Wales and Captain Loewenstein, the millionaire financier, figured in an exciting incident in the hunting field during a run with the Cottesmore recently. Hounds had met at Stapleford Park, near Melton Nowbray, the residence of Colonel and Mrs. Gretton, and it 'YJT® * n *'* ie . course °f a run across the Whissendine country that Captain Loewenstein fell at an awkward ditch. His horse bolted, and seven or eight followers, including the Prince of Wales, who had witnessed the “spill,” set off in hot pursuit. After an exciting chase the Prince cornered the horse by a gate at the end of the field. A farm labourer then helped his Royal Highness to bring the horse to a standstill. THIRD HOLD-UP THIS YEAR The labourer was warmly thanked by the Prince, and received a handsome tip for his assistance. The labourer gave the horse to a groom, who returned it to Captain Loewenstein. Apart from a few bruises, the latter was none the worse for his spill, and remounted and continued the run. The Prince’s presence of mind in acting so quickly brought him many congratulations from his hunting friends. Twice, at least, previously during this year the Prince of Wales has stopped runaway horses. While hunting in France in April he saved Baron de Palaminy from a nasty accident. The baron had been thrown from his horse*, and was being dragged along the ground, when the Prince seized hold of the bridle and stopped the animal. JOINS IN CHORUSES

The Prince of Wales joined heartily in rollicking choruses—including those of “The Farmer’s Boy” and

“John Peel” —when he attended the annual dinner of the Northampton branch of th€? National Farmers’ Union on the evening of his exciting chase.

Fresh from a day’s hunting the Prince sat down to a real “old English fare”—roast beef, Christmas pudding and foaming ale. The tables were decorated with baskets of wheat, dandelions and poppies, and the jolly old farmers of Gladstonian features and mutton-chop whiskers were entirely at their ea.se when the Prince joined in the merriment.

From a balcony at the end of the room the farmers’ wives and daughters looked down upon the scene. In a happy speech the Prince said that one of the best things about openair sport was that it made everyone pleased to see everyone else, and made people feel so neighbourly. If that spirit were kept going it would make the world a pleasanter place.

“Did I get over that fence all right?” the Prince asked the chairman, Mr. Smeeton, as he sat down.

“A clean jump,” Mr. Smeeton assured him.