FATAL COACH ACCIDENT.
A CHILD KILLE-D. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 4. Information was received here, tonight, that the coach from Otira to Springfield, on the West Coast route, was capsized in the Otira Gorge today. A five-months-old child was killed, and its mother, Mrs Scott, of Greymouth, severely injured. Three other women and two men were also injured. The body of the child, and, also Mrs Scott, was taken back to Greymouth, but the other injured passengers were brought on to the Bealey, and will reach Christchurch at about 1 o'clock in the morning. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. GREYMOUTH, Feb. 4. Quite a sensation was caused in . town, yesterday, when word was received that one of the ChristchurchOtira coaches had capsized, and the infant son of Mr and Mrs Scott had been killed and the other passengers injured. As eighty passengers left in the morning by train, the relatives were eagerly seeking news, but none of an authentic nature could be obtained. Word was received that a special train would arrive from Otira at 9.30, and the station was lined with people. It was found that only Mrs Scott, Miss Kellar, and the dead child were passenger-;, the others' in the coach proceeding to Christchurch by special coach. Miss Kellar, on being interviewed, stated that the passengers were Mr, Mrs and Miss Condon, Miss Mussen, Mjss Schaef and child, Mr Myex-s, Mrs Scott and child, Miss Kellar, Mr Davis, Mr aud Mrs Hamer. The passengers had just taken their .seats on the'coach after climbing the Otira Gorge, when the coach started] down-hill. They rounded the first turn safely, but at the second the king bolt broke and the coach capsized. The horses were going very fast. All the passengers were thrown out of the coach except Mrs Scott, who clung to the coach and held her child. She got caught . and was dragged fully two hundred yards, the child getting the back of its head knocked in. Mrs Scott was badly injured internally. The coach broke right in halves and the. horses bolted with part of the coach. The driver, S. Eastgate, escaped without injury. The passengers were more or less bruised, but not seriously, -and were able to proceed on their journey. Mrs Scott' and the little dead child were conveyed from the station to Mrs Kellar's in a stretcher. An inquest will be held.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19070205.2.12.21
Bibliographic details
Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8350, 5 February 1907, Page 5
Word Count
395FATAL COACH ACCIDENT. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8350, 5 February 1907, Page 5
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