LEAP FROM MOVING TRAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1929, Page 11

LEAP FROM MOVING TRAIN

SENSATIONAL ESCAPE; MADE EXPLOIT OF NAVAL PRISONER. DISAPPEARANCE NEAR PARNELL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A naval prisoner proceeding to Wellington under escort to-night made 'a sensational, escape from the limited expreee by jumping through a window of a second-class compartment in full view of the passengers. A search lasting several hours was instituted near the scene of the exploit, the city side of the Parnell tunnel, but no trace of the man was found. It is presumed he was not seriously injured and was. able to make his unobserved. The missing.man is.a stoker who is a'deserter from H.M.S. Diomede now on the way to England. He was in the company of a fellow-prisoner and a number .of escorts,*and was being taken to Wellington, to have his return passage to England arranged in order that he might be returned to his ship. The train .yjas .stopped inside the Parnell tunnel,through. the action of a passenger, Mr. Quirk, who applied the emergency tap. Guard A. Stewart was informed that,) the: prisoner was seated next to the hQpen window and ae the train was the steady rise approaching the, ( tumiel he leaped through the window, warning. The train, : .waq. ( moving at a speed of about 15 hour, and although there are steepifj>apks half concealed in long grass.; aa(L(.-thick undergrowth on both sides, of railway line, it is possible that- a ajiap; would roll down the slope without receiving serious injury.