SENSATIONAL COACH ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 8

SENSATIONAL COACH ACCIDENT.

SURROUNDED BY FLAMES. MELBOURNE, February 13. A sensational coach accident happened on the Glen Willis-road on Saturday, resulting in the death of Thomas Meßride, the severe burning of the driver. Arthur Kilpatriek, and the destruction by fire of Messrs Crawford and Co.'s coach and three horses. The coach leaving Mitta Mitta is due at the Lightning Creek Hotel, nine miles further on. at 4 p.m. The road for the last four miles before reaching Lightning Creek is cut in the side of a hill at an elevation from 40ft to 60ffc above the creek. On the other side the ground rises very high above the road, and is thickly covered with bushes and scrub. A large fire was seen burning on the hill shortly after the coach entered the cutting, and the flames were making their way rapidly towards the creek. A resident of Benambra, Mr James O'Rorke, ■was met here, and the driver asked whero the fire's were, and if it were safe for the coach to go through. Mr O'Rorke stated that he had just come through hiruself, and thought it should [be safe. When witliin two miles of Lightning Creek the coach overtook Thomas Meßride. who was carrying his swag. and. recognising his danger, Kilpatriek offered him a lift. They proceeded about a quarter of a mile with the fire burning on the bank of the cutI ting, and then -with extraordinary suddenness the wind sprang up, completely covering the coach in flames. The fire caught Meßride in the face. The horses lat once bolted, causing the off wheels of ! the coach to go over the cutting. McBride, in trying to jump off, knocked KUpatrir-k out of Ma seat. The coach I then righted itself, and it travelled with j Meßride on board for i>o yards. The iremains of the horses and coach wore ] subsequently found there. Kilpatrick j retained consciousness sufficiently to enable him to walk along the bod of the creek to the hotel. Both sides of the creek were in flames, but he managed ito reach the 'hotel in an exhausted con- ; dition. By this time the hotel was surrounded by fire, and all efforts were .directed Howards saving it. The women land children were conveyed to a place jof safety, and after several hours the danger was averted. Next morning news was sent to Constable at Mitta Mitta, and after some searching he discovered Mcßride's body 30 yards below the coach. Both legs were broken, and all his clothes had been.burnt off. It was evident that he.had been trying to crawl to the creek wh.ee h* vu <ww.takea by, tfat flame*. i^Lu*