RACECOURSE TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 4

RACECOURSE TRAGEDY

HoW KAIIKY OlliD. ]\irtk-alar- of the running of l!i" \Y:iiij.iiiui Sti I' i'lili-.', in \v!ii.-Ii V\'. Fa hey lO't hi« life. -how that (-'alley's meant Arahura HI at the hencoop, the, tuild Limllp from t!j,- ]ini-ii. Mr. 'Wall, tin' l'i!'-- wlio was standing Dear till- jump ready to take a snapshot "f tilt l horse-, noticed that Aralmra was wry tiri-d, as tin- horse rolled approaching the jump, lie l .illey urged his mount un. and Arahura rose at the ol>--itacU ■, Imt struck the top with his forefeet. "His hind leys went up, and he seemed to stand on his head on top of the coop lor a second or two. Instead of shooting forward as one might expect. Fahey dropped out of the saddle, uud rolled down the roop. Then Arahura turned a -omci>auit, and fell will, a sickening thud on the unf"rtumiie rider, who had not time to move. I thought his neck was broken, and as I ran lip to him his face went Mack and blood poured from his head. J got his body oil the course, and. putting his crimson cap on the end of a stick,'stood on the eoop and signalled fo r the ambulance people. i!i|i v n ,..,-,. r ],;< eyes or said a v.ord. and it was easv to See that his life was ended.'' He was at once conveyed to the hospiia], where he passed an ay within abo.it ten minutes of admittance, never having regained consciou-ness. *rji,- <!,Mvased was 2S years of age. and a native of Uoslvn Bush, Invercargill. where his parents reside. J t is related that Krtliev liu.l a premonition Of his tra-rif end 'in the shape of a dream. O.H'ridav night lie is said to have spoken as follows (o a man who had asked him for a match and to whom he handed a box:-' There you are, old man. take that; its the las' thing I siu.ll ever give you. I am going to ride Arahura to-morrow, but it will be my last race. 1 dreamt the other night that I would be killed durin-' the race. ° (Such war the end ot poor iiilly l-ahey. Jhe dramatic incident just recorded o* v » "w indomitable pluck and dariii" ot the man. He felt that he was goin° to his doom, but did not falter, amf «e are told, urged hi, beaten horse at the fatal obstacle with true liritish bulldog pluck. Many .such incidents have been recorded, both in verse and istorv. the best-known Wing, perhaps, "Itio '■rande > Last Jiace, ' a stirring verse irom the pen of A. 15. I'aterson ("Banjo ) which appeared in The Ski'tcn several years ago. The story i. 01 . s iU , follows:

RIO GRAXDK'S LAST RACK. Sow thi* was what Mai-plierson tuld While waiting in the stand; A rockier rider, over-bold, The vnJy man with hands to hold The rushing Rio (Jraude. Jle said. "This day 1 hid good-bye To bit and bridle-rein. T» ditche- deep ami jVncc> high, l'Or I have dreamed a dream and 1 Shall never ride again. " I dreamt- la-t night [ n»rb. thi- ran* 1 hat I to-day must ride. And caut'ring down to take my place 1 %*w full many an old friend's face Come stealing to my side. "Dead men on hur-,* ] on g -inee dead. I hey clustered on the track; The champion- of tin* day-, long tied, Tliey moved around with noiseless treadRay, chest nut, brown, and black. Anal one man <»« a big grev steed Rod" up and waved hi* hand: Said he. * \V<» help a friend i;i need. And we have come to give a lead To you and Rio (Irani;*. " "l'°r yen mti-t givr the field the -dip. never draw Ihe rein. Rut keep liim mo\iug with the whip, And it he falter - -et your lip And rou-e him np again. " 'Hut when v-at reaeh the big >tou.' wall Put down y.nr bridle hand And h*t him -ail- -he cannot fallRut don't yon interfere at all; You trust old Rio Crande.' "We started. and in front we showed. '1 he I'ig horse running free: Right fe.irlc—ly and game he strode. Anil by my -ide tho-e de.id men rod;* Whom no one eUe could see. "A- -ilrlltlv U ; t'ie- ;l lilld. They rod;- on i'iiiiej hind: Ai every fenc<» 1 plainly Jieard Tin* phantom leader give {he word. "Make room for Rio Crande!' I -puried liim »«n to g»'i th • lead. 1 chrnn-eil full inanv a fall: Rut Mutter-till each phantom -ted Kept with me. and at rating .-peed We vivo-bed the bii; «i(iiie wail. And theiY> ihe plnintom- <>n each >ide Drew in and blocked hi- leap: 'Make room! make room!' I loudly eried. Rut right in front they -eemed to ride—--1 rur-ed ihom in my -leep. "He never flinched. he faced it game, He -truck it with hi- edie-t, And every rdone burst out in flame. And Rio lirande and 1 became A- phantom- with the re-t. "And then I woke, and for a'spacc w All nerveb-- did I seem: I'or I have ridden many a race. Rut never one at such a pace A- in th*t fearful dream. *' And I am -me a- man can be I hat <.ut upon tha track. Iho-e pli;»niom r that men cannot see Are waiting now to yide with Me, Ami 1 -ball not come back. " For I mu-t ride the dead men'.* race. And follow their command; "Twcie uor-e than death. the foul disgrace If T should fear to take my place To day on Rio Grande."' He mounted, and a jc-l he tlijew. With ncve r -doom; Rut all who heard the >tory knew Ibat -lack Macphersoii brave and true. W as g"ing to hit, doom. J Itey -tailed, and the l»j#r bl.ick -teed Came fl.»«liing pa-t lh« '•land: All -iiejlediande.j ill t In* ||«l He J rod.; ab.llg at .-.pved. Ihe hii jiity Ili.) Crande. A niadii'-r-- it did - cm; And -"on j[ ,-vi'i v ton-He That Jaek Macpher-,,n rode anion--1 he t-reaiure- nf hi- dream. He looked to bft and looked to light. A- though men rode beside; And Rio Grande, with loam llecks white. Raced ;it hi. jumps in headlong flight And cleaied theni'iu hi- stride. Rut when I her reached (he hi" Mone uall. f)os\n went ihe bridle-hand. And h.U'l v- <• heard M.r j>h.-r--»n eal'. - Mak- loon. half ;!ie li-l ] nil! M i'>»■ p-'Ni i..1 \'[<) I.iandc!" ile"- d"'vfi' he'- dov.n! ,; And hoi>e .'»id nnn L»y ipliet -id ; * b\- .»t!e! \o M'eil the naind fac to >i-,tn. W'.- knew with Rio (.'ramie he ran Tb" race the dead men ride.