ACCIDENT IN FENTON STREET.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 3, Issue 143, 28 August 1895, Page 2

ACCIDENT IN FENTON STREET.

A rather thrilling spectacle was presented in Fenton Street on Thursday evening us u pair of horses and buggy were seen coming along from the direction of Whakarowarowa at a furious pace, its only occupant, a woman, shouting and gesticulating excitedly. It was a clear case of run-away. Mr E. llobertson, the owner of the team, happened to he in the street at the time and darted to the horses heads ; Ik; got, a good hold of one, but in relaxing his'grip a little in the effort to secure the other lie lost his hold altogether. Opposite the Grand Hotel, some of the workmen, with the host intention in the world, ran out into the middle of the street to stop the animals hut this only caused them to swerve on to the sidewalk, along which they rushed (ill at the corner of Pukuatua Street they brought the vehicle into collision with one of the large pine trees. The woman whs thrown out with great violence her face striking tho splash-hoard as she went. When picked up sin; presented a horrifying sight the flesh being stripped from her nose and cheeks and literally hanging over her chin. She was conveyed to the Sanatorium as tenderly ns possible on a stretcher procured by Mr llobertson and her injuries were attended to by Drs Grinders and llussell. The unfortunate woman is a Mis Willis and had been ongnged as cook at AY; irakei whence she had eome to town. At her request the driver. (Downey), had gone into the Gcyacr Hotel to procure change, not hesitating to leave her in the vehicle alone ns she had given him to understand that she Was accustomed to horses. A tourist on the verandah noticed the animals walking quietly out of the gate and called the driver, Tho woman meanwhile had dropped the reins and becoming nervous screamed for help. The noise sent the horses off at top speed and they were already some distance along the mad when the driver came out. The rest of tho occurrence is as narrated. Mrs Willis exonerates the driver from all blame, but there is no doubt it will be a lifelong lesson to him not to hand the reins over to female passengers at all events however accustomed they may be to horses. The patient is now progressing satisfactorily and though the wounds are most severe and will take some time to heal, it is not supposed that much disfigurement will take place, Mrs Willis was fortunate in escaping with her life. Tin; horses were uninjured, as they went one on either side of the tree, but the conveyance was pretty well knocked to pieces.