SENSATION COACH ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 38

SENSATION COACH ACCIDENT.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. (From Ovv Owv Cobbbspoxdbwt.)

CHRISTCHURCH, January 22,

The trip overland from Greymo-uth to Christchurch to-day was marked by a sensational coach accident, which must have ended fatally had not something little short of a miracle intervened. Tile Giroyn'oubh train reached Otira about half an liour behind time, but for tho first time for nearly a week the coaches crossed the Otira, thus saving the passengers from that undignified transport in the dray whiofi has been in use for some days. There were .eight coaches in all making the journey, three of the Moynihan line and five of Cassidy’s, the total number of passengers being about 80. The road was rough and five rivers high, but the journey passed without event until the white bridge at the .foot of Arthur’s Pass, on the Bealey side, was reached. In crossing the bridge the swingle tree of one of Moynihan’s coaches struck the side of the bridge, snapping a trace and;’damaging the body of the coach. Thi s necessitated a delay of over half an hoar, the necessary repairs being at length accomplished with the aid of rope and wire. The eight coaches left the Glacier Hotel in good order, and all with the exception of Moynihan’s second drag, driven by Bob Goodger, not the drag which wa s damaged at tiro bridge, duly reached, the Cass. When some 20 minutes had elapsed, and the missing coach had failed to put in an appearance, anxiety was generally felt, and rumours of an accident began to be circulated. At length Moynihan’s other two ipacheis returned along the road to the Boaley to lendpr assistance if necessary. Some tense minutes followed, when the figure of a horseman was soon in the distance galloping along the road to the station. Presently a wlnte-fa-oed rider gasped out the news, 1 ‘ Another accident at Paddy’s Bond,” and when it was gleaned that no lives were lost, a murmur of thank fulness was heard from the passengers on the platform. Another anxious interval, and Gcodger'-a coach, followed by on© of the relief coaches, earn© into the station, Goodger was driving, his head bandaged in a bloody handkerchief and his face showing signs of considerable damage. The passengers scrambled out, bearing all the mark® of an accident—torn clothes, scratched faces, and bandaged faces, fortunately minus broken, limbs or sever© injuries. Inquiries elicited the following facts of the accident gleaned from those on board the coach. The beginning of the steep descent leading to Paddy’s Bend was negotiated at a walking pace, but it was soon apparent that the brakes were not acting properly, and the coach gathering way began to press on the horses. One of the male passengers, who had noticed similar symptoms at an earlier stag© of tli© journey, promptly made his escape over the back of tli© vehicle, and hia example was speedily followed by others of those on beam. Meanwhile th© coach, increasing in momentum as it went, was swaying and lurching dangerously, and it seemed to the frightened passengers that each moment would take them over th© cliff into the river balow. The driver, Goodger, was manfully doing his best to guide the five homes round the sharp curves, which are such a feature of that part of tire road, and he cried to those sitting behind to hold him on to his seal. The alarmed, passengers failed, however, to grasp his meaning, and then earn© a catastrophe. The coach gave a tremendous lurch, and Goodger was hurled from his seat, and, his head hitting against the cliff, be fell prostrate in the road. Such of the passengers a© were left in the coach, terrified by tire sudden exit of the driver, scrambled and tumbled out of the coach, which was being dragged along by the now maddened horses at headlong speed. On th© box seat of the dri veriest coach speeding furiously down the incline sat an elderly man, Mr Adams, of Waltham, with hifl married daughter and his little grandchild. Their situation was perilous in th© extreme, and they had given up all hope whom one of th© shatters on the near side, becoming entangled in the traces, stumbled and fell, breaking his legs. Tho fall of th© house brought th© pole to th© ground, and, acting as a brake, stopped tho coach at the bottom of th© hill. Except for tho sever fright and shaking. Mr Adams and hi© daughter and grandchild sustained no injury. Tho passengers w©re quickly brought to tho station and embarked on tho train, whore th© ne°ds of th© wounded were promptly and efficiently attended to by a Lady who had evidently taken her ambulance course. One gentleman who had his hand badly cut and bruised was Mr Fass, of Greyraoutb, who had been married that morning, and was, with his bride, on board tho runaway coach, on route to Christchurch for hie honeymoon. Another passenger who escaped with a few scratches was Mr , "W. G. M‘Ewan, of Reef ton, who was coming overland to take port in the band contest. For the most part the sufferers mad© light of their injuries, but by the tirn© th© train readied Christchurch were all

beriming to feel extremely stiff and sore. So far as can be ascertained the names of those travelling in the coach when the accident occurred are as follows:—Bob Goodger, driver, severely cut about tho head and face; Mr and Mrs Greymouth, Mr Fass’s hand badly cut and bruised, Mrs Fass unhurt; Leslie Blair, Sydenham, knee badly out and bruised; W. Bone, _A.ha.ura, hand badly hurt; S. R. Holmes. Greymouth, head scratched and bruised; M. Sara, Reef ton, slightly bruised; Richard White, Reef ton, a few scratches; Adams, Waltham, daughter and granddaughter, all unhurt; W. G. M'Ewan, Reefton, unhurt*; E. Comerford, Greymouth, unhurt; C. Free, New Plymouth, unhurt.