A DISASTROUS RIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 6 April 1885, Page 2

A DISASTROUS RIDE.

Sorios of Accidents In Otahuhu,

A seb'es ol accidents—one of thorn of a very serious character—is reported from Otahuhu, as tlioresult of furious riding on tho part Mr Bucklond, jutir., a young man aged about 18 yoars. Attended by somo threo or four companions, ho paid a visit on horsoback to tho Volunteer oncarapmont at Papatoitoi, and boing in rather an excited condition, showed a disposition to indulge in Bomo pranks. Amongst othor acts, ho tilted the holmot off a cavalryman's head, and although tho volunteer was goodnaturod enough not te resent tho affront, his comrades woro not so placable. Somo half-dozon or so of them quickly mustered to tho cry of " Dismount him." Young Buckland dared anyono to carry out tho threat, and tho challenge eliciting an immediate response ho headed his horso furiously at the fence or goto of tho paddock, and after knocking down a couplo of civiliuns in his wild careor, eloared it at a bound. Tho party then started at a terrific rato along the Groat South Road. Buckland was mounted on a first-class animal, and soon took tho lead. In apprcoching Otahuhu at an unslackonod gallop, ho met a young man named W. H. Harrison (a bootmaker of Otahuhu) also mounted, and cannoned heavily against him, tho result being that Harrison and his steed woro both placed horn (h combat. Wo undorstand that Mr Harrison, son., has Kignifiod his determination to institute legal proceedings in respect of this occurronco. Shortly afterwards Buckland and one companion entered Otahuhu at a wild gallop, ond tho villagers, startled ot tho novel sight, hurried from tho road to the footpaths, exclaiming " Look out! hore's a raeo; cloar tho rnnH >' .-. -i.hu, »omo o or v jroum *i _ 6 a, and son of Mr McElroy, tho blacksmith, souplit ref ugo along with another person under tho shop verandah of Mr Fallwell, the chomist, Buckland's horso charged over tho sido of tho road, and McElroy's child was knocked down and ridden over, tho horso stumbling over its prostrate littlo body. Tho rider galloped away, but after going about threequarters of a mile, ho turned round and rode back to ascertain what damago ho had done. Upon finding out what nod happened, ho said he would pay oil tho damage In the moantimo, tho Volunteers, and particularly Novnls, strengthened by a numbor of tho City Guards, had chartered a couplo of "busses, and set off on tho warpath. On arriving at Otahuhu thoy ospiod Buckland mounting his horso in tho yard of tho Criterion. With nn exultant cry of " Horo ho is. Lot's put him undor tho pump," they mado a rush for him. Thus assailed, he clapped spurs to his horse and dashed through tho crowd of Volunteers ond villagers, knocking down two of tho latter. Ono of thorn—an old man named Sumner—is confined to his bod to-lay in consoquonce. Tho Volunteers, after firing a fusitlodo of stones nt tho deporting hero, gave him chase, and as thoy disappeared down tho road from Otahuhu, Ono enterprising naval was scon to have fastened on to tho horse's tail, and was goiDg along at tho rate of knots. Eight or nine others followed, and every fow hundred yards along tho road to St. Ann's Bridge tho horseman would suddonly turn round, and try to rido his pursuers down. Tho frionds of tho injured child had meanwhile despatched messengers to Drs. Elrasloy and Erson, and to Dr. Dawson nt tho camp, for medical aid. While Dr. Elmsley was attending to the unfortunate littlo fellow, Dr. Tonnenr, of the A Battery of Artillery, also drove down in his buggy to give wnat assistance ho could. Tho doctors found one of the child's thigh bones broken, that he was lacerated about the face, that ho had a contusion over tho loft eye, and that, to crown all, ho was suffering from concussion of tho brain. AH last night blood was flowing from his oars, and he is now lying in a very critical state.