Narrow Escape from a Terrible Death, at Waerenga-a-hika.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 930, 21 October 1879, Page 2

Narrow Escape from a Terrible Death, at Waerenga-a-hika.

One of the narrowest and most miraculous escapes from a fearfully violent death, occurred at Waereriga-a-hika this morning, to the younger brother of Mr. Cooper, landlord of the Hotel. The Hudson Company had given a very successful performance at Ormond last At the close the ladies and gentlemen of the Company were driven to Mr. Cooper's Hotel, at Waerenga-a-hika, where they remained for the night. In the morning after the party had breakfasted, the landlord undertook -to drive them into Gisborne, m a conveyance having two horses attached. The Company had taken their seats, young Mr. Cooper being m front of the horses, holding them steady by the bit bridles. Mr. Cooper, sen., had just said "let go," previous to making the start, when both, horses suddenly reared on their hind legs, their fore legs wildly striking the air. The horses, while thus plunging drew the near wheel of the conveyance forward. To avoid being struck, Mr. Cooper, jun., unfortunately got entangled between the horses, eventually falling between them, and within an inch of the front wheel. He was now under the horses, which were plunging desperately. To save himself froYn being trampled on, and to avoid certain death or terrible mutilation, Mr. Cooper had to wriggle himself from beneath the feet of the terrified horses, and, on his knees, crawl through them, when he escaped at the rear of the conveyance. The screams of the females ; the exexclamations of the men ; the attempt to quiet the horses ; the wild directions given 'to young Cooper ; all helped to heighten the general terror of the onlookers. The escape from a shocking death is described as something little short of a miracle.