AN INTERESTING STORY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1135, 7 January 1884, Page 2

AN INTERESTING STORY.

The Southland News tells the following interesting story;— They have a horse at the Bluff which i» a popular favourite. He works on and about the wharf, and his name is Jemmy. He is sagacions, 11 nimble as a cat,” and gentle withal. The way he can dodge trucks in and out on the wharf is something wonderfnl. He is up to every movement, knows his work, in fact, as well as a man—a good deal better than some men. The. latest instance of his cleverness, one might almost say possession of reasoning power, as related to us borders on. the marvellous. , A siding extends from the main line into the New Zealand Loan Company’s store. Inside the building the rails have a platform on each side about 3ft high. The space between the rails and platform on either aide is barely sufficient for a man to stand in when a truck is passing. A enrve in the line prevents anyone at The far end of the building from seeing any obstruction at the entrance. On the occasion in question Jemmy was at the far end bitched to a truck that was about being .removed. Just then the railway hands or storemen had run a truck in at the front «f the store. Jemmy, not seeing Thisi-'started his load, and, as the rails decline to the street at a somewhat rapid pace, when about midway he saw the other truck advancing. Another second and he would have been doubled up and crushed between the two. With lightning rapidity he took in the situation and decided what to do. Turning his head, he, with his teeth, pulled the check-rope connecting his harness with the truck, and then raising himself on his hind legs stepped off the track on. to the space between it and the platform, on which, like a trained circus horse, ho placed his forefeet. In this position he was safe. In much less time than it has taken to describe it, the trucks had collided, but not oven a hair of Jemqyr’s tail was touched. He quietly in his nnnsnal position until the lino was cleared, and then went about his work as if nothing extraordinary had happened.