RUNAWAY HORSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 10

RUNAWAY HORSE

CART CRASHES INTO HOUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE INDIAN DRIVER INJURED A frightened horse dragging a cart behind it bolted down the steep slope of Wellington Street, City, shortly before two o'clock yesterday afternoon, crashed through a fence and collided in a shattering impact with the front of a house. The driver of the cart, an Indian hawker, Daji Rama, aged 35, of Airedale Street, was admitted to the hospital suffering from concussion and an injured ankle. His condition is not serious.

The front of the house presented a scene of havoc immediately after the accident. A length of fencing was flattened to the ground, a corner verandah post had been broken off and removed bodily, and the cart was resting against the shattered woodwork and glass of a bay window. One shaft of the cart had pierced a front window pane, dragged down the curtains and pole on the inside and emerged through the glass pane at the side. In addition to the windows broken by the shaft of the cart other panes were shattered to pieces by the forco of tho impact. The stout woodwork was splintered and the heavy weight on a sash cord swung exposed. The horse appeared to escape lightly and was led away. " I saw the horse dashing down the hill and called to the driver to pull the reins," said a woman eye-witness. " But I think the driver had fainted because he seemed to be lying back and the reins were loose. Then there was a terrible crash as they struck the house." Another bystander said he saw the horse and cart careering out of control, and ran down the road behind it. Then it mounted the footpath and crashed through the fence. When he arrived the injured driver was lying in the bottom of the cart. The damaged dwelling, which is on the corner of Wellington and Howe Streets, is owned by Mr. T. Hcid, who is visiting England. Miss Rogers, who Ts occupying it in the owner's absence, said she was at the back of the house with visitors when the impact occurred. Tho whole house shook as though there was an earthquake. She ran to the front and saw what had occurred. A crowd soon gathered and while some tended to the driver others released the horse. Beyond the tearing down of the curtains by the shaft of the cart no damage was caused inside the room.