A NARROW ESCAPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13861, 26 March 1907, Page 5

A NARROW ESCAPE.

ACCIDENT TO A WAGGONETTE. (Per United Phess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. t'lvo occupants of « waggonette belonging pMr JI. Cassidy, Iho owner'of fho Otira line of coaches, had a. narrow escape from sudden death on Sa.hmlav afternoon. Two coaches a waggonette with two horses, ami a , foiir-horsft waggonette, all belonging to Lassidy's service. and carrying passengers from West- Coast, rn the order named, left Bealey at 3.45 p.m. .An iionr lator, when two and a-half miles Trom Cass River, and while die two-horse waggonette, driven ljy Mr Warren, was Hearing lire end of the W'aimakariri cutting, something went wrong with ihe brake. There was a steep downgrade at the place, and the horses of the waggonette were soon in con toot with tho rear of the coach iin front. Mr L. D. I'mdd. his brother, and throe ladies (strangers lo Ohristchurch) were in the waggonel to. As soon as the horses came in eonlact- will) tin* coach Ihey swerved towards the side of the entting, where the bank runs down at a sleep grade 200 ft. to the Waimakariri River. The occupants jumped our. quickly. Fortunately no one was hurt. The driver kept his position, and tried lo cheek the horses till the last moment. cojisi6te.nt with his eafetv. and finding the brake useless, leapt- out after the others. One horse was drowned in the stream below, and the waggonette badly broken. The other horse w»6 uninjured. After Hie luggage had been secured, the passengers divided n.inong.st other vehicles, and were brought on lo Broken River at 7.00 p.in., and so lo Christelmrch.