Miraculous Escape.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 160, 4 June 1884, Page 3

Miraculous Escape.

An almost miraculous escape from a shocking death occurred this morning. As the up train from Foxton wag travelling at its ordinary speed near Botanical Road crossing 1 some cows and young stock being driven by Mrs Christensen got on the line, and tho engine was slowed down m consequence. "While still moving;, a young beast ran on the line m front of the advancing engine, and to turn it back, Mrs Christensen rushed after it, apparently heedless of the danger she incurred. She was just on the edge of the line when she was caught by the cowcatcher, and tossed to one side. Those who saw th<? incident were terror-stricken, thinking the poor woman must be severely injured. She rose to her feet, however, and her first compulse was again to cros.< the line after hei straying beast. Strange to say she received but little injury to speak of, though evidently a good deal shaken. Her legs bore a slight abrasion the result of contact with ihe cowcatcher. One of our runners witnessed the occurrence, and said he expected nothing else but to see her mangled remains dragged one from under the engine. Fortunately for her she had not got sufficiently far on the line to be struck by the centre of the cowcotsher, or nothing could have saved her life, as she would have fallen right under the engine. Bi»ing caught by the side part >-he was simply tossed rather roughly to one side. She diil not appear to realize the extent of her danger, even after the occurrence. One of the line-men had just previously warned her not to attempt to drive the cattle over the crossing until the train passed, but she disregarded the friendly caution. The driver and the firemau were nearly paralysed with fear when they saw the woman rush m front of the engine, and believed a terrible accident to be invitable. Of course no blame attached to them, as they had just slowed the engine on purpose to avert collision with the cattle on the line. The experieuce Mrs Chrisiensen had this morning is one that few people survive, and is one that she will probably rememember a* long as she lives.' Certainly a narrower escape has seldom if ever been recjided m connection wi ih the railway m this district.