A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11902, 11 December 1893, Page 2

A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

« — . The Arauiolio 'Bus Thrown over the River Bank. Two People Seriously Injured. Several Others Slightly Hurt. At about 8,30 o'clock on Saturday night » most unforlnnato accident occurred on tho River Bank just opposite Bridev's Creek. Mr Moorehouse's 'bus, the 'Welcome, the first one put on for the Wanganui trade, was on its way into town, having some seven or eight passengers on boardt On reaching what is undoubtedly a dangerous poitionof Iheroad the narrow *trip that runs along the unprotected top of ann.ly gully, a Chinaman's vegetable cart, in which were two Chinamen, was met. Although there was a light in the h tier vehicle it is stated that it was on the wrong side, and that in consequence, the night baing too dark to allow the driver of the 'bus ( iSlr Alfred Moorehouse, junr.) to see dis' tinctlv, the error resulted in a complication during which tho Chinaman's cait was turned in a direction facing directly across the read. This, of course, obstructed the passage of the 'bus horses, and they immediately turned in the other direction and plunged over the bank. The whole thing only occupied a second or two, so that there was no time for those on the 'bus to escape, and they were consequently dragged over with it. Tna heavy vehicle twice turned completely over, ultimately Inndinir in a perpendicular position, facing inland, had bridging over the creek. Those who were I on the top of tho 'bus were thrown off as soon as it overturned, bnl even then their fa(l was very severe, and judging by tho position in which some of them were found their escape was simply marvellous. Tho inside passengers wore, naturally, carried down jwith the vehicle, a fact which in itselt conveys an idea of the great danger in which thoy were placed. Modicsl iiid was at once pent for, and Drs Connolly, Earle, Bell, and Marshall were quickly in attendance. An examination of the sufferers showed that Mr Frank Lundon, 6taf.ionmaster of Aramoho, had sublimed a dislocation of the thigh and a severe shock, Mrs J. Love a very severe shock, and her little daughter Catherine a bad shaking ; Mr Herbert Bevege, bip severely bruised j Mr Alfred Moorehouse, driver, leg cut and body considerably bruiaod; Fred Grooinbridge, conductor, bruiaed and shaken j Messrs Tait and W. Gibson, a slight shaking. Mrs Love was at once removed to Mr Brider's residence, near at hand, and Mr Lundon to Mr MoNab'p, just opposite where every kindness was shown them. The others were able to get to their homes, festerday afternoon Mr Lundon was removed to the Hospital and Mrs Love was taken to her homo at Aramoho. It is most fortunate there wore so few on the vehicle at tho time, as, had it been loaded ns on the previous trip (when thero were 30 on board at the spot in question), there must have been somo fatalities. As it was the escape of those who went over tho hank was wondorfnl. Sorgeant Villers i(,nd Mounted Constable Hewiftwero on the iceno shortly aftorthoaccidenf, and remained tili midnight, giving all tho assistance in their power. Tho road just at, the place whoro the accident happened is only somo l(j feet wide, with a fence on tho street sido bn|, not tho slightest protection on tho bank. The crook in rjuostion is tho boundary linos between the Borough and tho Waitorara County Council, and strangoly onough as the 'bus alighted it stood paitly in either territory. So far as we can leurn there is not the slightest blamo attachable) to the drivor of the 'bus, who did all in his power to provont the occurronco, but had not time to restrain tho plunging animals.