A COW BRAKE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3261, 14 December 1881, Page 4

A COW BRAKE.

That the cow is not ' inevitably killed' when caught by the ' catcher ' on the locomotive engine was demonstrated lately on the Great Northern extension, between Tamwcrth and Uralla. According to the Sydney Evening News the contractor's engine, with some half dozen men, was proceeding at pretty good speed along the lino on a dark night, when a collision with something was felt. 'The brake was instantly applied, and the guard looking over the side, saw the head of a horned beast lying on the rail, while its bellowing made all believe some frightful injury had been inflicted upon ita carcass. The engine was stopped, and the men jumped down to drag away, as they expected, the dead body. To their intense astonishment when the engine stopped, the cow jumped—not exactly over the moon, but on to her feet, and galloped off into the bush. The animal must have been caught napping across the line, and been turned up in such a way that her legs were towards the engine, and thus sho was shoved along in front of the wheels. She was seen next "day ' hugging the fence,' and showing the side which had been grounded, and from which the hair had been as completely rubbed as though tho beast had undergone the process of singeing. Although often seen after-

wards she invariably kept clear of the line. Such a singular escape has never before been seen in the experience of any of the men who witnessed it, and who had for years been engaged in extending the lino. .