MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 3

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

The "Lyttelton Times" narrates the following miraculous escape from death, or severe mutilation at the railway station. Constable Conway had a letter to forward to Lyttelton by the 2.30 p.m. train and had evidently arranged with one of the passengers to take it. He did not, however, come on to the platform, until the train had begun to move, and he then ran forwards with the intention of giving the letter to a person who was holding his hand out of a carriage window to receive it. On reaching the end of the platform, Constable Conway placed his left hand on one corner of the urinal which is built against the platform, and leaves only a space of about three feet six inches between it and the rails, or two feet between it and a passing carriage. In reaching forward from this point, one of his feet appeared to slip, and he fell down from the platform in the narrow space between the urinal and the rails. The station-master (Mr Jones) and other officials, attempted to stop the train, but the engine was then going round the bend, and the driver consequently did not observe their signals. At the same time two porters rushed below, and quite contrary to expectations, found the constable lying insensible on his left side, with only his left hand and right foot wounded. How he escaped more serious injury in such a narrow space is most unaccountable, but the only inference is that in falling his right temple, on which there is a large swelling, struck against a passing carriage, turning him on his side, and that the side of his left hand and the point of his right foot were then caught between the extreme edge of the wheels and the rail. After the train had passed, the constable was raised and carried into the porters' room, where his wounds were washed and a medical man sent for. Finding subsequently, how-

ever, that he was capable of being removed, he was at once taken to the hospital, where he was attended to by Dr. Prins'. The wounds we" find on enquiry to" be that the little finger on the' left hand, as also some distance down the side of the hand, is lacerated, though the bone is not broken. The third finger on the same hand is also wounded, and the extreme point of the toe on the left foot is cut off. Beyond this there are no open wounds, though the blow on the forehead must have been a very severe one. There is, of course, no danger, so far as can be judged, of any serious result to the accident.