too minas of tbe ir^untinG^jflel^ 



authors of ' Country Quarters ' (Mr W. N. Heysham and 

 the late Mr J. Nevill Fitt), in Bailfs Magazine : — 



' In the year 185 1, on Wednesday the 24th December, 

 the Vale of White Horse met at the " Three Magpies." 

 A fox was found in Lea Wood, the property of Mr Ray- 

 mond Barker, and ran towards Fair ford Park. In the 

 corner of a field an old pump was discernible, and near 

 it a gap in the hedge ; and a scene here occurred which 

 could never have been witnessed elsewhere. As Mr 

 Henry Pole was making for this gap, his horse's hind- 

 quarters sank, and it became invisible ; slowly also his 

 rider disappeared, and then his horse's head, and lastly, 

 the pump followed also. A lady and a gentleman, Mr 

 and Mrs Croome, were riding close by, and saw this 

 dreadful occurrence ; Mr Croome at once gave his horse 

 to be held, and rushed and offered his whip to Mr Pole. 

 His position, when first seen, was standing on the pommel 

 of his saddle, with his hands endeavouring to fasten 

 themselves into the joints of the wall of the well. He 

 gladly availed himself of the whip, but there was only 

 sufficient strength at the top to hold him. On this, Mr 

 Ernest Bowley came to the rescue, and Mr Pole was 

 immediately drawn to the surface. But then the diffi- 

 culty arose how the horse was to be extricated ; he 

 plunged violently till he was quite exhausted, and was 

 wedged in by the pump standing upright behind him, 

 with his hind legs just touching the debris of the broken 

 wall at the bottom of the well. A rope having been 

 sent for, Mr Croome succeeded in tying one end round 

 each fore-leg, and a noose round his neck, and as by 

 this time a large crowd had assembled, with their united 

 exertions the horse was extricated unhurt from his 

 hazardous position. This day ended in a famous run.' 



