DESPERATE LEAP. FROM A RAILWAY TRAIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 704, 15 October 1875, Page 3

DESPERATE LEAP. FROM A RAILWAY TRAIN.

The following particulars of the attempt--ed suicide of Captain Stevens, of the ship Auckland, arc from the Edinburgh CourantOn the 21st Julya passenger by the Caledonian train from Glasgow for Greenock at four o’clock,. attempted to commit suicide by leaping from a first-class carriage between Langbank and Port Glasgow stations, while the train was travelling about 40 miles an hour, and subsequently cut his throat while lying in the ditch into which ho fell. The unfortunate, man.. is. named Stevens, and was till recently in command of the fine ship Auckland,, belonging to Patrick Henderson and Go.,‘ which sailed from the Tail of the Bank-for New Zealand with a full complement'.Of passengers, on Saturday evening.-, On Saturday he had called at the business premises of a firm in Glasgow, and by his conduct these doing business with him saw that something was wrong in his mind. Captain Stevens having intimated that ho, was going to Greenock, one of the gentlemen belonging to that establishment, named Mnnro, was asked to accompany him for safety. At Bridge street station the two were seated in a fir.-.t-class carriage, and subsequently a lady and some children cams into the compartment, and remained till the train reached Falsity. From this station Mr Mijuro and Captain Stevens were left alone., ! About two miles from Port Glasgow, Captain Stevens got up and, taking off his watch and chain, dashed them down on the seat,, and started to get out of the window. Mr Mnnro did all in his power to restrain him, bat Mr Stevens being a powerful map Mr M’nnro w-as unable to overcome him. Eventually, thp captain got so far out of the window as to be able to catch the roof with hj& hands, and with one hound he threw lipp'selt from the carriage upon the embankment, near Parkier, and was seen to roll into.the. ditch below by Mr Martin, one of the inspeotors of the railway company, who was,traveling in the van along with the guard. The enginedriver being unaware of what had happened, proceeded to Port Glasgow. He w-as removed to the Greenock Infirmary, where on examination it was found he had received a large lacerated wound on the forehead and other injuries. While -the doctors were dressing these wounds, their attention was attracted by the unfortunate man’s peculiar breathing, and on raising the long beard which he wore, it was discovered that ho had also cut his throat, the w-indpipo being nearly severed. It is supposed that he had indicted this injury upon himself with a pen-knife while lying in the ditch near the railway track. Yesterday Captain Stevens' condition was critical, but hopes are entertained that he may yet recover.