ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2556, 17 July 1909, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

A NARROW ESCAPE. On Thursday morning Mr E. W. Bousfield, of To Karaka, had a sensational experience and a narrow escape fronf death. Together with two companions, Messrs Bennett and Philips, he was driving a mob of sheep to Tahora, and when near Mr Mason’s place at. Wharekopae, halted to clear a track along the. summit of a steep sloping face. While they were engaged in shifting logs and branches, Mi' Bousfield was struck on the knee by a heayv branch which knocked him over and sent him rolling down the slope. He rolled thirty or forty feet and then was stopped by a branch of tutu, sgarnst which he' stuck practically suspended over "a direct drop, eighty feet in-depth. He was dazed by the shock he had received and was incapable of himself from Ins perilous Messrs Bennett and Philips prompt!' scrambled down to his distance and with much difficulty, heLpqd him to the top of the slope. Their task was a hard one, owing to the treaeheious m - ture of the ground which was. composed of broken, crumbling material, with scrub and tutu. By bolding on to the branches and going up hand over hand they managed to place Mr Bousfield in safet-v. though Die. whole party weie at times in imminent danger. Air Bousfield says that he cannot speak too rhiriily of the prompt and courageous conduct of his rescuers, without whose aid he must have lost his hie. As it was, he escaped with the fracture or » small liono in his left hand and several severe bruises. After the accident the •party went to Mr A. Harris’ station, where Air and Airs Harns did everythin'’- in their power for Mr Bousneid, there for the mgaK