A Racehorse Burnt on the Railway.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 11 July 1891, Page 2

A Racehorse Burnt on the Railway.

An exceedingly! (unfortunate oc- . currence happened yesterday (Turing the run of the evening Manawatu train from Longburn to WellingTibS. When about a mile the other side of Manakau the driver noticed, clouds of smoke issuing from a horsebox not far from the engine. IJe \&p °nee shut off steam, and having brought the train to a standstill, proceeded, with several others, to jex^m^ne .thp burning box, which was fcnoyp^'jp contain two. racehorses coming up to the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting. On the door being opened^ a terrible sight presented itself.* r The straw bedding in the box had in some way become ignited, and fi^i been reduced to a mass, of . r^cflfot ashes, in which the two animals— a mare called Lucy Glitters, belonging to Mr A. E. Fitzherbeirt, of '£ahnerston North, and the wellknown steeplechaser Dangerous, beioftginj? to Mr Thurston — were standinglß6m paralised with terror and pain kiiA half suffocated with smoke. The flames had caught one side, of this . box, and when discoye^d h&H M t 'ii good hold. The clothing on j^uoV Glitters' back was nearly ..a^l^ifrnt off her, and the. un%tuflat€f *%are had her feet and part of her legs

completely roasted. Dangerous was singed about the 4 legs, but nothing like so seriously injured as his companion, whose, hoofs wove nearly burnt off. .The mare With difficulty was got out and left in a paddock at I the side .of the line while tho train I came on ■to Manukau, where the f guard- reported the mishap. When .-- it resumed its journey it was understood thaia man with a gun would be at once sent to the scene of the accident to put an end to the poor animal's misery. Dangerous was brought .on to Wellington, hut although not seriously burnt, he is!>xxst; likely to be able to race oiF'oaturday. Both horses were engaged mV the Trial Steeplechase. We understand that the Jockeys c&tfffljOi with tho horses \.'ere in a s^ond. class and the owners in r a first, plass carriage, and there was no one in the box with the horses when the fire broke but. The theory as to .the cause of the mishap which obtaineel inpßt qredenoe is ■ that some sparks from the engine— which was burning wood at the time - must have been wafted through the grating otthe' carriage window and fallen arjtt6tig the straw f It is also sug gissted' ttjat ignition of the straw migHtJ^ave been caused by someone Bi^t^g. in'the box.^-N. Z; •Jhties. CBNTUJRIES have rolled by since Bacon said "Coffee coniforteth the brain •and-'heart, and helpeth digestion; Use OiteAw's A. 1. Coffee. Sold only in 1 b and 21b tins.