ACCIDENT TO THE ESCORT THREE PRISONERS HURT

Otago Witness, Issue 537, 15 March 1862, Page 6

ACCIDENT TO THE ESCORT THREE PRISONERS HURT

Considerable exaitsraent. was occasioned in town on ihuwday afternoon by the intelligence that there had been a break-down of the Escort, near Lookout Point, a few miles from Dunedin, and it was variously supnosed that the prisoners had escaped or been killed. Many persons went out in the direction indicated, on horseback and In conveyances of various kinds. Ine report proved to be ia the main correct, although, a3 is usual in such cases, there had been some exaggeration.. The circumstances, 03 nearly as we have been able to gather, were as follows :— The Escort was on its way to Dunedin, bringing in addition to nearly ten thousand ounces of gold, the four pngoners, whose capture by the police was lately recorded in our columns, and also another man on a very serious charge. When the Escort readied Lookout Point, one of the leading horses of the cart became rebtive, and kicked violently over the traces, and the driver had only time to call out to the prisoners to jump out when the conveyance was overturned. Owing partly to their being cramped by long sitting, the prisoners were not very active in attending to the order, and three of them were considerably bruised, but no boues were broken. The driver, who seems to have behaved vory well, stuck to his reins, but the horse that had caused the mishap, broke away. None of the horses were injured, but the vehicle and the harness were too much damaged to allow of the gold and prisoners be carried on. Mr. Keddell, the officer in charge, therefore dispatched a trooper into Dunedin to the Commissioner of Police, who at once proceeded to the scene of action. Other conveyances were procured, and the gold and prisoners were safely broueht into town. ° As the Escort approached Dunedin the people turned out in large numbers to meet it. It certainly presented a remarkable appearance. The first conveyance was a small wagon, which usually

plies for the conveyance of passengers between r i Dunedin and Cavershara. In" this we're ] four prisoners — two of whom lav extended ! in the bottom of the waggon, thus confirming the im- ( pression that they had been seriously injured ; i another snt beside them in a very disconsolate atti- I tude, while the fourth sat by the driver. In front of i all, the horse that had been the occasion of the acoi- < dent, trotted unconcernedly with his harness about s him. Shortly afterwards a small but strong cart ap- 1 peared. In this was stowed the gold, and one pri- 1 sonur who, from tho position ho oceujiied in thp cart, apprired also a » if he had beci badly hurt. It may well be iir.a^ine-l that the public excitement was intense, especially when it became known that the prisoners were the gmg of " stickers up" of whom so much had been heard. A dense crowd filled Hie street, and great numbers followed the escort to the gaol, to got a butter view of the prisoners. They presented a miserable appearance enongh, but we nave since learnt that they were not seriously hurt. «». _