SAVING HIM BY BITS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 909, 27 October 1881, Page 2

SAVING HIM BY BITS.

Before the erection of the new pier at the Castle Bock, passengers lrom Durabarton hart to be conveyed down the Levin to the Clyde steamers by a ferryboat rowed by two sturdy and generally elderly ferrymen, On one occnssion an English commercial traveller had seated himself on the gunwale of the stern. One of the old ferrymen aware of the danger to anyone so placed when the rope of the steamer should be attached to the bows of the boat took occassion to to warn the man of his danger. " Noo, ma man come doun aff that or ye'll coup over.". The bagman replied by telling him to mind his own business, and trust him to take care of himself. " Wggl" smtl the ferryman "mind I've telt ye as sure as you sit there ye'll coup over." No sooner had the rope been attached and the boat got the inevitable tug from the steamer than the fellow went head over heels up over the stern. " liowk, I telt him that!" However being in the water it behoved that every effort should be made to rescue him. So the ferryman made a grab at what seemed the hair of his head when a wig came away. Throwing it into the boat he made a seconp grip at the collar of his shirt and a front came off. Casting this from him with great scorn, he shouted to his companion " Tummas, come here and help to save as muckle o' this inau as ye can for he's comin' a' awa' in bits!"