ESCAPE FROM BUSH FIRE

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3920, 19 March 1929, Page 3

ESCAPE FROM BUSH FIRE

ORDEAL OF A SETTLER. HORSE CARRIES HIM THROUGH. Dudiug the past few weeks the densely covered bush lands of the Ilauraki Peninsula have been ravaged by fires. Many incipient outbreaks have quickly spread over large areas, endangering in several cases the homes and lives of settlers. A thrilling story in this connection was told last week by Mr. E. Morrison, a well-known resident of Hikuai. He set out from Puriri on his way to Neavesville with two sheep dogs and a horse heavily packed with stores. Pressing on through a smoke-covered area the lone traveller suddenly realised that Ihe rapid rush of a hush fire cutting off all frontal and rear passages to safety called for the exercise of desperate measures to save the lives of his valued stock. Half-blinded by the onrushing smoke and heat he unbutekled and threw aside the trappings of his horse and, unaided by saddling gear, drove the maddened animal through the flajme-covered track, which at times rose to his view as a great wall of fire. W'tih head down and jaws set, beating out fires in his clothes with burned hands and trusting entirely to his mount, Mr. Morrison finally raced through to safety. His dogs, unable to keep pace with his galloping horse, were burned in the fires. Mr. Morrison’s first thought on his escape was for his horse. The ilesh on its legs was severely burned. Mr. Morrison is rapidly recovering from an experience the memoryo f which he says he will carry to his grave.