A JUMP FROM A TRAIN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1896, 22 March 1880, Page 3

A JUMP FROM A TRAIN.

The “ New Zealand Herald” of March 10th, gives the following particulars of a miraculous escape from instant death which occurred on the previous Monday evening. Amongst tho passengers in the Waikato train to Auckland was a gum-digger named William Alexander Meller, who was considerably under the influence of drink. Constable Haddick, of Ngaruawahia, was also in the train. It appears that for some reason, whether well or illfounded, Meller thought the constable wanted him and he made up his mind for a desperate venture. After the train had passed Taupiri, and was in full motion, Meller deliberately sprang off ths platform A considerable number of people noticed the extraordinary exit of the passenger and at the next station (Huntley) Constable Haddick got out and walked back along the line to find, as he thought, the remains of the reckless fellow. He found him, sure enough, but he was not dead, although insensible. Where he jumped out there was an embankment fifteen feet high, at the bottom of which there were about three feet depth of water. The constable found the man insensible in a moat peculiar position. There was one solitary stump sticking out of tho embankment, and against this;Meller’s body was caught midway and retained. Had this impediment not intervened he must inevitably have rolled into the water and been drowned. The constable brought the reckless man back to Ngaruawahia by the night train. His only injuries are a sprain of the arm and some bruises to his face.