MOTOR'BUS DASHES INTO THE THAMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13847, 9 March 1907, Page 3

MOTOR'BUS DASHES INTO THE THAMES.

AN AMAZING ACCIDENT. An amazing accident to a London general motor omnibus happened at Barnes at about 7.30 on the night of January 20. The 'bus was running the usual route from Liverpool street to Barnes. Luckily there were only two passengers alibard upon arriving at Barnes, all the others having dismounted further east. The 'bus had got as far along Kivor terrace—almost exactly opposite the winning post of tlio Oxford and Cambridge boatrace course— and was proceeding along that very narrow stretch of road which is 'bordered on (lie left by small villas and on the right by a heavy wooden fencing, when something apparently went wrong with the steering gear. the 'bus amok. Anyway, the 'bus—which was being driven on the third speed just here (as is always the case)—suddenly swerved to the right and ran amok. It dashed into the heavy woeden railings and shattered them like matchwood. Then, with a drunken heave, crashed down the deep, st-onc-pavod bank, plump into the river. Tliem were lots of people about at the time. AYomcn on the pavement shrieked and faintod with terror, as the monster vehicle lurched into the stream, apparently carrying its erew to certain death. The remaining passengers on the 'bus were sitting upstairs on one of the buck seats. They were a young man ami his sweetheart out for the afternoon—their names Henry Amos, of 3* Ruekin Buildings, Westminster, and Jennie Satindcrson, of Trinity Mews, Pimlieo. PAS3KXGEES' PERILOUS PLIGHT, As the 'bus chargcd (ho railings they both started up, the girl screaming with - fright. She clung to Amos, but lie was , flung like a,stone from a catapult right ( to the further end of tile omnibus, where ( lie fell and injured his leg. Tlio next { moment tlio 'bus was in the river. The ( driver, Fred fiearle, clung manfully to his ( wheel, and had the. brakes jammed on hard § ;lv tho eulmbefrsomo voh iclq. struck tlio 5 water. I Down she went, and before Searle could J realise Avliat had happenod the water was $ over his shoulders and dashing into his £ face. Ho was up to his neck, when the C fore part of the 'bus grounded in the mud, C tlio machinery whirred madly, and then ? stood still. ' : «j By some miracle the vehicle kept up- f fight, and in lliat position came to a standstill. Had it been heavily loaded with | passengers upslaitis, tho accident would have ( teen 100 direful to imagine. Luckily the ( heavy steel chassis and the big wheels acted t i as ballast, and prevented a. calamity. < SPLASHING IX THE WATER. ; § People rushed lo the spot, but they could i 5 do nothing but stare in a frightened way | at the wreck. They couldn't see Driver § Searle, but they could hear him splashing a and spluttering. $ A boat, was moored near by. Somebody B immediately scrambled down the slippery e slope and, climbing into the boat, rowed S it to the fore part, of Ihe 'bus just a 6 S Searle's head and shoulders emerged x dripping from tho water and appeared g over the top of the 'bus, right forward. g "I'm all right I" he gasped. C I In another minute or so lie let himseif ffi i down slowly into the boat, and so amid g . chcers was rowed ashore. S The conductor, who hung on to the back g of the 'bus. was rather badly cut about; but lie sustained no serious injuries. g Mr Amos and Miss Saunderson were & helped down the utairs— Amos limping I $ painfully. Both were pale as death—and » no wonder. " AI.L IK A TUSH." Interviewed by a Morning Leader representative tho driver said Everything happened all in a, Dash. I think something must have gone wrong with tlio steering rod. I was driving on the third 6pecd, and going at quite a steady pace when lhe 'bus seemed to go mad ail of a sudden, turned short oft' to the right, and wa-s through tho fencing and down in tho water before I had realised anylhing. I thought I was done for, but I liung on to the steering wheel for all I was worth, and didn't leave go until I was up to my neck in Ihn water. "How did the 'bus keep upright? I can't say—unless that it was u miracle. Look at the slope she came down, sir, and try and judge for yourself! I can't!" The two passengers, Mr Amos and Miss Saunderson. were at once taken to Dr Cruiekshank. tho police surgeon. '• I found," said the doctor. " that, fortunately, no bones wore broken, but both were sulTering considerably from the shock, and I sent thorn oil' home at once. Mr Amos told mo he was flunjr across the top of fho 'bus, and ho might have been very badly hurl."