PERILOUS CROSSING

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1933, Page 8

PERILOUS CROSSING

ANTICS ON SWING BRIDGE. RUSH TO SEE AEROPLANE. He was a large, well built man whose commanding aspect had earned a measure of respect as a referee of Stratford football matches, but there was little of dignity in his bearing during a few tense seconds yesterday afternoon. In company with others he hurried across country to greet George Walker on the wrestler’s arrival at Stratford by aeroplane, and when it was found necessary to cross a swiftly flowing stream .by means of a crazy home-made swing bridge he was the first to grope his way along the narrow footplank. Midway across, he felt the bridge sway as a well-known retail furnisher started .to follow. He swung a moment grasping the wire guides at each side, but suddenly they came away in his hands and for a moment he balanced on the plank, then toppled over to be received by the joyous waters running about two feet deep at the spot. Meanwhile the retail furnisher had also been thrown off his balance, but in falling he retained a hold on the guide wire and was left hanging with feet just above the current. To the amusement of other arrivals the one who was wet struggled ashore and the one who was in danger of becoming wet pulled himself hand-over-hand to the reach of willing hands which lifted him back to safety. The rest of the party made the crossing on hands and knees.