UNEQUAL CONTEST.
' - : —4 —: ; GRASSHOPPER V. LOCOMOTIVE. 1 /J A COLLISION., BT TELEGHAPH—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. (Rec. Oct.- 24, 9.27 p.m.) Sydnsy, October 24. Swarms of grasshoppers at Narrabri (351 miles north-west of Sydney) blocked a train of empty trucks. After running some of tho trucks back to a station, the engine returned for the balance of tho trucks, but grasshoppers smothered the brakes, which refused to act; . The engine consequently collided with and smashed, some of ,tho trucks. Cases have occurred before in Australia where trains have been blocked by swarms of grasshoppers. and of catorpillars. It .;cems that tho manner iu whicli tho train is usually reduced to impoteneo b.v its tiny enemies is by tho rails becoming greasy with- (lie liquid of the myriad- bodies sacrificed on the steel altar. Numbers do not count, and the metals at last becoiho so slippery that tip train cannot grip. This might sufficiently nccount for tho non-action of tho brakes, »p.d the consequent collision with the standing trucks.' It is recorded of one swarm' of'ocusts' that, when driven out to sea and drowned, the'dead bodies washed up and, formed a bank 50 miles long, and' 3 or 4 feet high.
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Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 26, 25 October 1907, Page 5
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197UNEQUAL CONTEST. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 26, 25 October 1907, Page 5
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