A SENSATIONAL BOLT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13814, 29 July 1908, Page 7

A SENSATIONAL BOLT.

SOME NARROW ESCAPES.

NUMEROUS VERANDAHS BROUGHT DOWN.

Hobsox-stheet, between 'Wellington and Cook Street*? was the scene of a . somewhat sensational bolt yesterday morning.

About 11 o'clock one of the overhead *. electric wires used in connection with the tramway system came down, and fused - so baaly that three horses attached to one of. Mr. Wai hock's waggons became

frightened, and tore down the street at a break-neck speed. They had not gone very far when they deviated on to the footpath, and caused a general scatter of .pedestrians. Unable to regain control, and noticing the imminent danger of coming into contact with the verandahs further down, the driver jumped off, and escaped injury. With the reins free, the affrighted animals raced on more madly than ever, and carried destruction in their

path. One verandah post after another Mas levelled to the. ground, and those roofs which were minus horizontal supports came down with a succession of loud crashes.

The horses continued their headlong career until they were confronted by a substantial telegraph pole at the corner of Hobson .%nd Cook Streets. The leader managed to steer clear/ - as also did the shaft horses, but the latter in doing so got the post between them, and as they were unable to part the harness they were brought to a standstill. Not a verandah was left standing for a space of about 30yds or 40yds. All the posts had been carried away, and the roofs, though supported by horizontal Beams, were .left sagging considerably. A big pane of glass in a tobacconist's window was also cracked. .

Several pedestrians had narrow escapes. One was a lady who was wheeling a perambulator. She was u<«t,in front of the horses, and realising her peril, and racing along close to the shops, managed to turn round into Cook-street just as the horses were upon her and the verandah behind her came down. As a result of the electric wire coming 'down, the primary cause of the stampede, the car service throughout; the city and suburbs was delayed for about 20 minutes. "