TRAMWAY ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 24

TRAMWAY ACCIDENT.

' An accident occurred on the Ocean Beach, tramway line last evening, in which an elderiy man named Duncan Kerr had a very narrow, escape from death, but fortunately, so far as could be ascertained, escaped with a few cuts on the head, and a rather severe bruise over the right thigh. The 6.5 tram from town was brought very suddenly to a stop, and the driver, James Watson, called to the two passei.gers in the tram for assistance, saying that he had run over a man. This proved to be not quite the case. The man named was found in an insensible condition, tightly jambed under the front of the car, and within an inch or two of the wheel. It appeared that he had been lying across the hne aa the tram came up, and that the driver managed to see him and to pull up as quickly as he did was not a little remarkable and certainly highly creditable to him. The horses were immediately released, and as far as possible the weight was taken off the man, who lay motionless under the tram, with his head nastily cut in several places protruding from, beneath the stop. Some boys held the horses, and one or two pa-sser3-by, being called on, gave their help and the car was lifted off the man's body. The man was then placed on tha floor* of the car and taken to the "tramway stables.. By means "of- Mrs.Caustick's telephone at (he Onslow Houee, Sergeant Brown, of South. Dunedin, was communicated with, and that officer 1 lost no time in renehirfg the beach. " First aid "' was rendered by Mr C. R. Spragg, who was at the tram directly . after its arrival, and tho extent of the injurips^and condition of the patient, &o far as could bo ascertained, Jieing reported by telephone to Dr Roberts, Oil the doctor's advice— there being no 'bones broken, and no serious-hemorrhage, the patient was removed to his residence in Argyle street, South -Dunedin. A boy saw the man lying across the tramway just as the car came tip, bui, had no time to givo a warning. That the accident was not attended with very serious, if not^, fatal, results was' surprising, and tho driver .of the car deserves to be commended for his conduct throughout.