MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 15, 21 December 1878, Page 2

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

A most miraculous escape from death was experienced on Thursday night when a man named Peter Cooper jumped from the down Foxton train while at full speed. It appears that Cooper, whose brother lives on the JRangitikei Line, got on board- the train at Palmerston with the intention of going to Awapuni, ; .vvhich is about three miles distant. ./After leaving the station, the clerk asted him for his ticket, but was informed by Cooper that he had none, and no /money to .pay for one. As ho adhered to that statement, he was told he would be given into custody at Foxton, ariel tlje clerk went forward to inform the guard of the occurrence. On his-return to the carriage he was told by a Maori that the man had jumped off the train, The engine was stopped, and while the train proceeded to Foxton, the ticket olerk. with lantern m hand searched the line back to. town. When ius.ide the town boundaries, between Mr McNeil's residence and the Palmerston Hotel, his attention was attracted by heavy breathing at some distance from the line, and upon proceeding tq the spot he discovered the unfortunate man lying m the grass m a st«*teqf insensibility. After considerable delay he had him transferred to a butcher's cart and convey edjto the residence of Dr. Maclachlan, who, after a lengthened examination, declared th,at no oones were broken or n,Q serious injury had been, sustained, As the man was s.tjll insensible — but apparently fron the effects of drink — Cons.table Gillespie remQved. him to the lo,ck-up, Mr James Perrin with praiseworthy generosity offering to ride out to Taonui and inform his brother of the accident. Yesterday his brother had him removed to his residence m a trap, b.eing considerably shaken by the falL