TERRIBLE COACH ACCIDENT.

Colonist, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7701, 7 August 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE COACH ACCIDENT.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH PASSENGERS SEVERELY INJURED. FEARFUL STATE OF ROADS. [united press association.] Lyelii, July 19. A terrible accident occurred to Mitchell's mail coao'a on Tuesday evening five miles above the Lyall. Tha coaob"arrived at the Lyell with a f ull complement of passengers, and was in oharge of Mr Teddy Jones, a wellknown and careful driver, and several pt.ssengora were lsft at tbe Lyell. The place where the accident happened wai narrowed by two small slips, giviag very little room, and approached by a sharp declivity an! turn. The fore wheels cleared the edge of the road, but the hind wheels carrj ing the weight took away a portion and went over, tilting that portion of the ooaoh clear of the fore carriage, and the driver holding on to the reina was caried over the foot-board among the horses. All the pasßengers, indluding Mr and Mrs Mitchell and infant, desoendiog a distance of 200 feet to the Bulter river, where the balance of the coaoh was pallai up by shelving rocks. The esdape f-om instant death of all the pcoapanta waa miraou'ou3 airi ho ?oriab undoubtedly was tbe rae*ns of cIL e ■<■ r it. Had the four horses gone eve; w.iu ha ooaoh nothing could have tave.l those now surviving. The injured are, Mrs Mitchell, fracture of the leg and injury to the spine ; Myies Oixon, dis'ocited thou'.der and severe scalp wonn^s ; Thomas Giinnie, dislocated hip and knee ; Me Mi-chell is terribly disfigured ; Mr Cummißgs/ Blight injuries, The remainder of the passengers, Messrs Burly and two sons, Grace, Mclnroe, end Mr Mitohell's ohild did not receive a soratoh. There can be no doubt tbat this road is in a fearfully dangerous state, there being several places within half a mile of the aoaident whtre on both tides the result of this catastrophe would have proved fatal to everyone in the coach. The mail contractor ga?e notice to the Government of discontinuance of running the mail coach unless the road was made safe. Unless tha Government takes tbe ma'.ter into hand of attending to the upkeep of this road there will ooonr other strious mishaps, or traffic will require to oease. Within the last six months the_mi;l coDtao or haa lost two coaohea. ana four hnrse3 owing to the bad state of the roads. Dr G.»ze was telegraphed for at ten o'e'eck, and arrive i A from Westpbrt at 11 the following morning.- He [is now in attendance gn the sufferers,