THE HUTT DROWNING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10407, 3 April 1897, Page 4

THE HUTT DROWNING ACCIDENT.

[by tkleokaph,— phess assooution.] Weiainuton, Friday. At tho inquest on the bodies of Mrs. Hope her step-daughter, Lilian (aged 20), and aa infant, who were drowned in the Hut! Kivor yesterday, a vordiot of accidents! deal!) was returned. A rider wae added t» the effect that the road should be fenced as bicycles were frequently used on it, and they frightened horses,

Further particulars of the accident show that a passerby noticed signs as if eome thing had gone over the band, and went down to look there. He saw the cart overturned, and all three bodies pinned down by one wheel in about four feet of water, Tho horse was unhurt, and was lying witfc his head out of the water against the bank, The cart had scarcely a ecratoh, and th< fatality is inexplicable, excopt on th< supposition that the victims wore stunned by the fall of about 20 feet. All were qujfo dead, and probably had been there is hour before they were found. Id jj understood Mrs. Hope did not kno* much about driving, and, though then was evidently plenty of timo to havt jumped out of tho cart, it is sup. posed that in fright she clung tighter to th'e reins. Sue was driving homo at the time. The place where the accident occurred is on an incline in tho gorge. The horse must) have jibbed going up the hill, and backed over a steep bank. The husband, who had come to Wellington, knew nothing of what occurred till ho opened the evening paper iijfc night.