A SENSATIONAL RUNAWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12212, 6 March 1903, Page 5

A SENSATIONAL RUNAWAY.

Quite a stir was occasioned in Shortlandstreet about noon yesterday by the ""bolting of a horse attached to a float belonging to Messrs. Hellaby and Co. A staircase, about 20ft in lengthy was being placed in the vehicle when a portion of the cumbrous load accidentally touched the horse on the rump and caused it to start forward. The steepness of the street gave the runaway a considerable impetus, and the efforts of the driver, who rushed after the horse, were unavailing to arrest its progress. The animal pursued its wild course down the street, and considerable damage was done before it was brought to a standstill. The first collision was with a hansom, at the top end of the rank, belonging to Mr. W. G. Parker. The vehicle was struck by the float with such force that the horse -was knocked down and considerably bruised by the wheel of the float passing over its leg and shoulder. The driver, a. man named O'Brien, was standing on the footpath at the time and escaped injury. The runaway continued on its career down the street, and when opposit«the post office struck a gig belonging to Messrs. Hancock and Co. A lad named Edward McCoy, of Newmarket, who was in the gig, was thrown out, and the vehicle was overturned. McCoy was badly shaken, and the vehicle and harness also received some injury. A few yards lower down the 'street the float struck a cab owned by Messrs. Pullan, Armitage, and Co., and driven by Thomas Greenan. The latter was attempting to lead his horses out of the way when the float ran into the back part of the cab, and the. pole shooting forward struck Greenan in the chest and knocked him down.: As. he lay on the ground his own hdfses struck him with their feet and bruised him. considerably. The injured man was carried , into Sharland's chemist's shop, and there attended by Drs. Moir and Cooni. Shortly afterwards the runaway was stopped by a man named Barron, whose plucky action was much commended by the numerous bystanders. >