SAVES FOUR ENGINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1921, Page 6

SAVES FOUR ENGINES.

BOY’S LONE-HANDED FEAT. In the first-hours of a recent Saturday (says the Christchurch Press) the enginehouse at Clinton was completely destroyed by fire, but not before it had given J. K. Cook, a mere boy, a chance to z rescue four engines from the flames, under circumstances which probably have no parallel in the history of railways the world over. Cook was on duty alone in’ the shed as a cleaner when he discovered the fire in the shed shortly after midnight. The flames had then a good hold, and the building, with plenty of oil about and other combustibles to assist the spread of the blaze, was quickly past all hope of saving. There were, however, three “dead” engines standing in the shed, and one “live” one, and they represented a value far in excess of that of the building. Their fate would have been beyond redemption if Cook had not shown both courage and enterprise in making use of |he fourth egine which was standing in the shed with a head of steam on.

The interior of the burning engihehouse was filled with smoke and the heat was increasing every minute when Cook dashed to the “live” locomotive and climbed into the cab. To call for assistance would have been to lose valuable minutes and the buiding was Doat all help from the fire-fighting appliances available in Clinton. He decided to work alone.. Coupling two of i the engines and driving the “live” one, i though his experience of the foot-plate i must have been very slight, he drew I the three into the open yard and safe j from any danger from the fla'mes. By ' this time he was badly affected by the i heavy smoke, but he had, as he thought, j rescued all the engines in the buildI ing ' • • j At this moment an engine-driver ap- | peared on the scene,, and told Cook ! that there was still another engine in ■ the shed. The building by this time was completely in the hands of the fire .fiend and the flames were burning fiercely. Taking a wire rope, Cook dashed onse more into the smoke and heat, regardless of the risk of falling timber or of a stumble in the hot darkness. It was difficult for him to see, but he managed to hitch the wire rope to the remaining engine, and it was drawn out of the flames to safety. ; His exertions in the smoke and heat 1 then told on him* and as he reached | the open air, his task fully accomptished, he collapsed. By this time there' were others on the scene, and >he was conveyed to his home suffering acutely. , . In the meantime the building burnt i fiercely, and before long it was reduced to' a mass of ashes and bent iron. ! Gne of the engines in the shed was ol ; a powerful type, of the class used tor drawing express trains, and it alone wa-s worth several thousands of pounds. Ihe other locomotives were smaller, but in all, Cook, by his energy and heroism, succeeded in saving the people of New Zealand a considerable sum. It is understood that Cooks heroism is being brought specially under the notice of the authorities in order to secure for the boy some recognition oi his bravery and coolness.