SENSATIONAL COACH ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 9

SENSATIONAL COACH ACCIDENT.

SURROUNDED BY FLAMES.

MELBOURNE, February 13

A sensational coach accident happened on. the Glen Willis-road on Saturday, resulting in the x death of Thomas Mcßride, 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 anr elevation from 40ft to 60ft above the creek. On the other Bide 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 where 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 himself, and thought it should be safe. When witliin two miles of Lightning Creek the coach overtook Thomas Mcßride. who was carrying his swag, and. recognising his danger, Kilpatrick offered Mm a lift. They proceeded about a quarter of a mile with the fire burning on the bank of the cut-' ting, and then ■with extraordinary suddenness the wind sprang up, completely covering the coach in flames. The fire caught Mcßride in the face. The horses at once bolted, causing the off wheels of the coach to go over the cutting. McBride, in trying to jump off, knocked Kilpatriek out of hia seat. The coach then righted itself, and it travelled with Mcßride on board for r>o yards. The remains of the horses and coach were subsequently found there. Kilpatriek retained consciousness sufficiently to enable him to walk along the bed of the creek to the hotel. Both sides of I the creek were in flames, but he managed to reach the hotel in an exhausted condition. By this time the hotel was surrounded, by fire, and all efforts were directed Howards saving it. The women and children were conveyed to a place Jof safety, and after several hours the danger was averted. Next morning news was sent to Constable Strahan. at Mitta I 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 >h>d been trying to crajrl to the creek vie* hi wa« m- ;- [.takea b X the flame*. l^u^Uu.