A RACE FOR LIFE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1247, 22 January 1886, Page 3

A RACE FOR LIFE.

Tho ‘ Nelson Evening Mail ’ gives the following-account of an exciting race by the driver of the,; Nelson and Reelton coach during the recent bush fires Re coach left. Nelson at the usual hour, in reaching the Motupiko Valley it was found that an extensive fire was raging to tho right of the route. Mr G. Newman, however,, continued his coarse, thinking that he'could keep ahead of the flames. Bat in this he was mistaken; for after' proceeding a few miles, and reaching a portion of the road where it was next to impossible to turn the coach, he found that the fire was of greater extent than he had imagined, and began to realise the. gravity of the danger which threatened him. The country behind him he knew to be all in flames, and therefore all hope of retreat in that direction was out off. His only hope then consisted in his chance of heading the fire, and he accordingly put the horses at top speed, and then commenced a race for dear life. The smoko at this time was such as to almost shut out the leading horses from the driver’s view,- and the heat getting more - and,; more intense as, the great 'column" of” fire" rolled down the hillside towards- the,; iread;.- i The flames were now within A whip’s length of the road Sid'd, and tile 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.But being himself almost suffocated with the heat and smoke, his only thought" Was of reaching a point ahead where there was a break in the country, and a small stream into which he mi'ht throw hiihself, for his whiskers and hair had already. been badly singed. ' To make the narrative short, the coach swept on at a terrific pace until reaching the point on the route already referred to, where, as expected, the fire had taken another direc* Bon, and the danger was over. A glance at the coach and foaming horses then revealed bow terrible had been the ordeal through which they had just passed for the last mile. The horses were singed fearfully, the paint had peeled off the coach, and the only wonder seemed to be that Jfche awning had not ignited. Mr Newman will not for* get his experience in a hurry, and few other men probably could have undergone such a trial without losing their senses. Had a burning tree fallen across the road to stop traffic in the great speei at which it was going, had any accident happened to the coach, there would have been no possible escape from a terrible death both to driver and horses. After a sufficient spell tho journey was resumed, and completed without further difficulty..