Fearful Accident in Chapelstreet.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1663, 17 June 1875, Page 2

Fearful Accident in Chapelstreet.

At half-past seven o'clock a horse and trap accident occurred at the corner of Chapel and West Queen-streets, which endangered the lives of three young men and a valuable horse. The injuries received by one of the lads are so severe that it is probable he will be a cripple for some time to come. The manner of the accident was as follows :—

The boys had driven in from Epsom in a milk-cart belonging to Mr Leonard, dairyman, living close to the Prince Arthur Hotel, on the Onehunga Koad, for the purpose of. making the usual round among Mr Leonard's customers for the morning milk. Going down the street the Horse, which is a young spirited animal, shied at something, it is not known what, at the side of the road, just after passing the Roman Catholic Cathedral. In its fright the animal accelerated its speed and swerved suddenly to the left. Ths near wheel catching the kerbstone close to the lamp post at the corner of West Queen - street, the check gave tha vehicle an inclination up West Queen-sfcreet, and at the same time canted it over to the right at a dangerous angle, and it spun acros the street on the on& wheel in the direction of the side path at' a point immediately above Worrrall's grocery store. Directly the wheel came in contact with the kerb the vehicle upset with fearful violence, the reversion being so complete that the horse remained on its back with its legs kicking in the air while the three lads were thrown into the gutter and were partially covered by the cart. The head of one of the lads came into violent collision with the asphalt of the path, which iuilieted a terrible wonnd on the right temple, a pool of blood nearly a foot in diameter marking the spot where he fell. 3he wheel of the cart also remained right across his. thigh, and the struggling of the-horse caused the iron tyre to graze and bruise the flesh very badly. The other two lads escaped with slight contusions, one of them getting his face cut in two or three places, while the other complained of his thumb being sprained. The upsetting of the cart was attended with a loud crash, caused by the scattering of the milk cans, which flung their contents all over the place, adding a comic element to the tragic nature of the scene. Few people witnessed the accident owing to the eariiness of the hour, but the crash and the cries soon brought a crowd round. The injured lad was assisted

i nto Mr Finlay's house at the cornei- »i, the cart firßt Btruck the sic^T&h. Her«? was most carefully atts^ A to by thlmates of the house, J^TFinlay » B J v family doirg their bes: 6 alleviate his a? feriDgs. When first /(fought in he » moaning and complainiyg of his Bide, JnT* this it was feared that in addition to V other injuries some of his ribs were broke Dr Hooper was at once sent for. and a ajj also rode into Epsom to acquaint Mr Leonjwt When the doctor arrived be found ti* sufferer on the sofa in Mrs .Finkya front parlour with w?t bandages already appljJ to his head. He immediately examined th wounds, which he pronounced serious but not fatal. There was no fracture of th» skull and no breakage of any bones, J],. shock to the system necessitated jthat the patient ehoflld be kept as quiet as possU^. ■ and having given other medioal directions' and sewed up the wound on the temple the doctor^ deaprted. Soon afterwards the lad fell into an easy slumber, from whic-si h e awoke just before an express came tothe house to take him home at 10 o'clock. . Jj r Leonard arrived on horseback an hour before this. A plentiful bed of straw was made W in the express, and the injured youth did not complain of any violent pain when removed, The horse, strange to say, was uninjured, and was led away as quiet as a lamb, apparently sorry for the mischief he had been guilty of. The Cart was damaged a good deal, and wag taken to' a coach-builder'a to be repaired. The persons who saw the accident say that it is a mirucle the whole three were not killed outright, the cart was going at such » pace when it went over. The lad most I hurt has been for some time in Mr. Leonard's empl6y, and is spoken of as being very steady. He is commonly known ag " Charlie" amoflg his mates. His fiunuuna has not reached us.