A MAD RACE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 877, 21 October 1871, Page 2

A MAD RACE.

The "Manchester Courier" relates the following extraordinary scene: —■ " At Sale, lately, two spirited horses, attached to an open carriage, were standing in the grounds of Mr Sedgwick, of Holmfield-house, near Manchester. A little boy, six years of age, son of Mr Sedgwick, had seated himself in the carriage, when all at once the horses took fright, passed through the narrow gate entrance, and proceeded at a great speed along the road. After they had gone some distance thoy turned from the road and jumped a. hedge, six feet high, carrying the carriage and its young occupant ovc-r safely. They lighted upon the South Junction railway line, which passes parallel with the road. Tlio pole of the carriage swerved somewhat, and the horses went on their mad career along the line in the

direction of Manchester. Had the /portea gone straight forward at the point where they jumped the hedge they would have come to grief in the canal which is directly opposite. At Sale station a large number of passengers stood upon the platform awaiting the arrival of a train due in a few minutes from Stretford station. Great was their astonishment to see two horses and a carriage coming at a very rapid speed along the line towards the station. Before they recovered from their suprise at the strange sight the horses flew past the station, as eyewitnesses described it, like an express train. The horses were seen in the distance galloping straight along, still •on the line, and it was feared they would come into collision with an expected train from Stretford. Mr Wardleworth, the station-master, at once telegraphed to the officials at "Stretford to -stop the train. In the meantime the horses continued their course along the line without obstruction. They passed a bridge where the had a marvellous escape, as the iron girders upon it barely allowed room for the vehicle to pass. Their speed then abated, the animals being evidently blown and nearly exhausted. They were stopped ;a short distance from Stretford station by a labourer, and removed to a place of safety. No injury whatever was done to the boy, the horses, or the ■carriage."