PICNICKERS IN PERIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1701, 18 March 1913, Page 5

PICNICKERS IN PERIL.

DRAG PARTY'S THRILLING ESCAPE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' Melbourne, March 17. A drag containing twenty-two picnickers had a miraculous escape at a- level crossing on the Brighton railway on Saturday niglit.The drag was on the metals when a train was approaching. The gates were half open, preventing the driver of the drag from manoeuvring the horses straight across,- and. lie"hurriedly decided to attempt to escape from the oncoming train by driving the. team along t'lie line to- > wards Brighton. The horses responded well and moved in the direction of safety before the passengers realised the danger. The drag was almost clear of the lino when the train dashed up and struck a, rear corner, knocking off the near hind wheel and tearing out-the side,- leaving the. passengers still sitting on tlio seat along the 6ide. James Neil Allison jumped off the drag in the wrong direction and was killed in- - stantly. The passengers on the train had alighted, and were swarming .the line searching for possible victims, when a train from Brighton came along, and another disaster seemed imminent. Fortunately the driverof this train took warning from the lights carried 'by the searchers, and pulled his train, up just clear of the damaged drag.