ACCIDENT TO CRAIG AND CO.'S MAIL COACH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1868, 3 February 1892, Page 3

ACCIDENT TO CRAIG AND CO.'S MAIL COACH.

The Coach Overturned. Two Persons Seriously Injured. A serious accident happened yesterday forenoon to Messrs Craig and Co.'s coach on its down trip from Roxburgh to Lawrence, by which two persons were seriously injured and a number of others severely shaken. There were altogether nine passengers on the coach on its departure from Roxburgh, Mr Jas. M'lntosb being in charge of the team.

Everything went well until the, neighbourhood of Mackay's Hill was reached, and ( here, without any apparent cause, as far as can be ascertained, the horses suddenly took it into their heads to bolt, with the Bad results jusb mentioned. From Mr Brownlee(of Dunedin) who, with another passenger, Mr Gallard, occupied the box-seat with the driver, we learn that while ascending the hill and close to the Island Block side of the range, the horses suddenly threw their ears back and started off at; a gallop. There is a very steep decline from the top of the hill, and this naturally gave such an impetus to the coach that the efforts of the driver towards staying the career of the animals, now travelling at a furious pace, were next to impossible. On reaching an ugly pinch at a sharp angle in the road towards the middle of the declivity, the coach was swung violently over, and as it went the king bolt became detached, thus freeing the horses and preventing , even more serious results than those that we have, unfortunately, to chronicle. Of the three occupants of the box-seat, the one most seriously injured was Mr M'lntosh, the driver. Before reaching the dangerous spot where the smash took place, Mr Brownlee informs us he turned to tho driver and hurriedly communicated to him his fears that disaster awaited them at that particular point. Mr Brownlee himself appears to have lost his seat before the driver; for he^ays the instant after he reached the ground he saw the latter being flung with great violence on to the upper part of his face and head, immediately relapsing into a state of unconsciousness, from which, at latest accounts, he had not recovered. Gallard, like Mr Brownlee, was so fortunate as to escape with a smart shakjng and a bruise or two. Of the seven passengers inside the coach, the most seriously injured was Mrs Peters, wife of Mr W. Peters, manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated mine. Mrs Peters appears to have been thrown violently under or against the opposite seat, and when removed was found to be unconscious, though we cannot yet speak with certainty as to the exact nature of her injuries. Mr Peters himself received a severe shaking, but escaped serious injury. A few others of the inside passengers also received cuts and bruises, but are not otherwise injured. Singularly enough neither the coach nor the harness received any damage, nor have the horses suffered the slightest injury. It should be said that all through the trying and terrible ordeal the driver never for a moment lost his self-posses-sion, holding on to the reins to the last, until he was displaced by the overturning of the vehicle. The evidence of all those whom we have spoken to on the subject is unanimous in declaring that no blame can possibly be attached to | anyone, nor can any theory be suggested to account for the sudden bolting of the horses. At the time of the accident, Mr Hugh Craig was driving from Roxburgh to Lawrence, but on the opposite side of the river. On reaching Beaumont he learned of the accident, and immediately wired to Lawrence for medical aid. Dr. Nicoll promptly set out for the scene of the accident, and did everything that medical skill could suggest to alleviate the sufferings of the injured people. Mr M'lntosh and Mrs Peters were as soon as possible after the accident removed to the Raes Junction Hotel, where they still remain, aud their condition, we believe, is sufficiently critical to cause alarm. The remainder of the passengers came on by the coach and arrived in Lawrence about nine o'clock last night, the services of Dr. Withers being placed by Mr Craig at the disposal of those of the passengers suffering from bruises or contusions.