SENSATIONAL BOLT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6487, 6 April 1908, Page 5

SENSATIONAL BOLT

CAB HORSES TAKE FRIGHT.

A WELLINGTON LADY INJURED. (Special to tho “ N.Z. Times.’ ) PALMERuSTON, April 5. Thoro was a wild sceno at the Palmerston Railway Station shortly after tho 0.13 train arrived from "Wellington last night. Something seemed l r, startle a pony in Mr Charles Loughnan’s governess cart, and it swerved on to a pair of chestnuts in a cab belonging to Wood-Gold, into which tho two Misses Hu Sid I were just ».lx>ut to got. Tho luggage was already in. Vvcodficld hunseif had just put into another cab drawn by a pair of black mams Mr and Mrs Gordon Reid, or Wellington. Mrs Reid had been staying at tho Grand Hotel, and had beou down to the station to rncot lic-r husband. Just as tho driver got on his, scat, and was about‘to drive to tho i hotel, ho saw the chestnuts start at the impact of tho pony, and jumped off to stop therm, believing that nothing would start his own pair. Ho would probably have succeeded, but that he was struck by tho open door of the other cab and knocked down. In an instant both pairs wore galloping down tho Foxton lino, tho pony galloping «K 3 best it oould among them till it overturned its car on tho footpath. A buggy, containing three ladies and a gentleman, came dashing down with tho rest. By what looked littlo less than a miracle the driver of the buggy managed to pull his horso off the telegraph post past tho Masonic Hotel, against which it seemed certain that tho trap must bo smashed. The pony was soon eliminated on the pathway, and the cab containing Mr and Mrs Gordon Reid collided with a mailcart and lost one of its wheels. As tho cab tore down to tho railway crossing, Mr Reid saw that an engine was shunting, and, fearing what might happen as the mad horses raced across (lie had already opened both doors m case of capsize) put his overcoat round his wifo , s head and bade hor jump out. This sho did, and. though much shaken and bruised, and her lower lip bit-ten through, she suffered no serious injury, and will presently be about again without a mark. Mr Reid jumped after his wife, and, ©scaping without injury, took her up to Dr Greig, who stitolved tho wound in her lip. Today sho is doing well. Tho two cabs continued on, one to sma.sili up a mile further on, and the other to be stopped at Longburn, after a threo-mile gallop. Meantime tho bystanders had noticed a lady run over. Sho proved to bo Miss Martha Jones, of New Plymouth- Dr AVilson_ was secured, and took her to the hospital. Her ribs on both sides were found to bo broken, and ono had penetrated the lungs. Today her condition is serious, and she is suffering badly from shook. Woodfield was knocked down by the swinging door of the cab with the chestnuts, but escaped without injuiy.

SIX HORSES OUT OF CONTROL.

PEEBS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, April 5. At 1 o’clock on Saturday a six-liors© brake came careering wildly down Queen street from Victoria street almost to Customs street. The bolting horses were successfully manoeuvred through the crowded street, though quite a number of accidents were narrowly averted. When nearing the Customs street corner, where traffic ia always congested, a seemed inevitable, but just before this point the career of the runaways was cut short. Several trams were drawing up to the intersection, and‘the street was crowded with the 1 o’clock rush of people. Ahead was a gig occupied by fir Owen and a groom. For the brake to swerve to the right meant collision with a tram-pole, while to the left meant a lurch on to the footpath. The driver endeavoured to pass between the gig and the post, but the heavy brake proved too unwieldy, and crashed into the gig, smashing the wheel on the driver’s side to pieces. Dr Owen and his driver were thrown to the roadway, but escaped serious injury. The hors© was also thrown to the ground. The greatest credit is given by eye-witnesses to tho driver of the brake (Andrews) for what followed. As the team thundered down Queen street, Andrews showed remarkable presence of mind, and, grasping the situation as he neared the foot of Queen street he literally threw his horses to the ground. Several of the horses were very badly cut about.