BLENHEIM.

Thames Star, Volume XIIV, Issue 4471, 4 May 1883, Page 2

BLENHEIM.

This day.

The afternoon train yesterday brought up a man named Chas. Cook, of Para, to the Blenheim hospital, whp had both hands cut off on the railway. It appears that the afternon traiu from Picton had just turned one of the curves on the line between Para and Tuamarina, when the engine-driver perceived a man lying fall length across the rails. He at once put on the brake, but perceiving that the train could not be brought to a standstill before the spot where the man lay was reached, a fireman named J. Hunter, jumped from the engine, and ran along the line just ahead of the engine, and at great personal risk succeeded in dragging the man's body clear of the rails, but was unable to pull him sufficiently clear before the engine came up, and completely severed one hand at the wrist and cut the other hand right across the palm below the thumb to the third finger. The unfortunate man was placed in the train and conveyed to the hospital here. The sufferer's name is Charles Cook, and he is a mill hand at Para. The right arm has been amputated below the elbow, but it is hoped to save two fingers of the other hand. The man had been drinking, and fallen aslaep.