EXCITING RUNAWAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 27 March 1919, Page 4

EXCITING RUNAWAY

DRAUGHT HORSES IN FULL FLIGHT. CORDIAL FACTORY CART WRECKED.

One of the most unusual runaways ever seen in Nelson occurred this afternoon, when three large, sturdy-looking; draught horses attacked to a dray • careered down practically the full length: of Hardy street from the Maitai Ford* almost to the junction with Waimfeh' street. 1 lb appears that dray teams belonging to Mr C. Haggitt were engaged in re- f moving gravel from the Maitai near tliO. Hardy street Bridge when a leader longing to another team fell in the l water, and in splashing about in its endeavour to regain its feet,, startled »» three-horse team attached to • another dray, in charge of Mr E. Howard. Thedriver was unable to get holdofthe horses before they: w T ere in full' flight np> the bank on to Hardy street, when they > set out for home on Haven Read in uncertain manner. ; -

Coming down Hardy street,- the horse in the shafts appeared to be the principal actor in the runaway, and kept almost level with the two leaders: Sew era! spectators seemed to weigh ta their mind§ the possibility of stopping the runaway, but considered discretion this‘ better part of valour. Others attempted to catch up from behind,, but the attempts failed. Fortunately the hors®', kept more to the south side of the road and left plenty of room between them and two or three vehicles against thenorthern footpath. No mishaps od; ! cur red until in front of Mr Macaulay’s sweet shop. It 'is stated that a lady here rushed out with an umbrella -in.an endeavour apparently to bring the ■ horses to a standstill by fright. As state ■ ed above, the two leaders were running, towards the side of. the horse ■in tM, shaft. They missed Messrs Dodson ahd Sons’ cordial factory cart - ’that was. standing alongside the footpath outside Mr Macaulay’s shop, while the driven. Mr A. Haase, was serving a customer, but did not allow sufficient room for the" dray to pass, and the shaft struck the back of the cordial cart with a terjrifie crash, the sound of which was increased, as the soda-water, gingetebeer and other such bottles broke on. the pavement. The cart was upepded and the | horse thrown to The ground/The animal, [ naturally realising that something | unusual was happening, screamed with fright, increasing the disturbance. It broke away from the harness in regaining its feet.’ But for a cut on one of its back legs by broken glass it came out uninjured.’ Bystanders and others secured the draught horses and all was quiet before farther damage was done. . _ -■' Considering the nature of the-ndi-away, it is extremely fortunate that*tHfc route taken was not more plainly,- mjwJlf; ed. Judging by appearances, it wß'ibp some considerable time -before Megsis Dodson and Sons’ cart will be the road again.' __ t‘i-