A Race for Life.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1788, 29 January 1886, Page 3

A Race for Life.

The Nelson Evening Meil gives the following account of sn exciting race by the invar of the Kelson end Beetlon eoseh daring the recent bash fire The eoseh left Neb on st the nsnal hour, bat on reacting the Motnpiko Valley -it was found that an extensive fire was raging to the right of the route. Mi O. Newman, however, Motioned bis course, thinking that be could keep abevi of the flames. But iu this he wee mistaken ; tor slier proceeding a a few miles, and reaching a portion of ihe mad where it was next to impossible to turn tba coach, be found that the file wes ut greater extent than he had imagined, *ud began to realise tba gravity of the dargri which threatened him. The country behind him be knew to be in alt in flames, end therefore all hope of retreat in that direction was cat off. Bis only hope then consisted in his chance of heeding the fire, end he accordingly put tbs bones at tap speed, and then commenced a race fer dear life. The smoke at this time was seen as to almost entirely shat oat the leading horse from the driver's view, and the beet growing more and mote intense as the great column of fire rolled down the hillside towards the road. The flames were bow within a whip's length of the road side, and the paint on the coach began to blister, and give out a strong odour, which caused Mr Newman to think that the awning was on fire. Bnt being himself suffocated with the beet and smoke, hie only thought was of reaching a point ahead where there was a break in the country, and a small stream into which he might throw himself for bis whiskers sad hair bed already been badly singed. To make the narrative short the coach swept on at a terrific pace until reaching the point on tha route already referred to, where, as expected, the fire had taken another direction, and the danger was over. A glance at the eoacb and foaming horses then tevealed how terrible had been the ordeal through which they had just passed for the mile. The horses were singed fearfully, the paint had peeled off the coach, and the ooly wonder seemed to be that the awning had not ignited. Mr Newman will not forget hie experience in a hurry, acd lew other men probably could have nndergone such a trial without losing their senses. Bad a horning tree fallen across the road to atop traffic, in the great speed st which it was going, had any accident hap penad to the coaefa, there would have been ro possible escape from a terrible death both to driver and hones. After e sufficient spell the journey was resumed, and completedwithoat further difficulty.