The Accident to the Dunstan Coach.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 231, 14 April 1874, Page 7

The Accident to the Dunstan Coach.

Lawrence was thrown into a great state of commotion on Saturday afternoon, on the arrival of a message from Beaumont with news of a serious accident to Gobb’s coach from the Batistan, on descending the big hill on the west side of the Beaumont. The brake gave way, and the coach, which was carrying thirteen passengers, including children, was precipitated down the hill and upset, seriously injuring several passengers. The passengers on board were—Mr Anderson, manager of Bellamy Station, with his wife and four children ; Miss Ambridge, from Clyde, on a visit to her mother in Dunedin, and six Chinese. Mrs Anderson occupied the box seat with the driver (William Buff). Cobb’s agent despatched a coach-ami-four to the scene of the accident. Dr Halley went in the coach, and on arriving at the spot found Mrs Anderson’s hreast bone and some of her ribs broken, and that one of her children (a little boy four years old) had received a compound fracture of the leg, and had one of his arms broken. One Chinaman received a scalp wound which laid his skull bare. Another received severe bruises on the face and head. The driver received a concussion of the brain, and remained very stupid for a considerable time, having lost all recollections of the transaction. About nine •o’clock on Saturday night Dr Halley sent a message to Dr Stewart to come to his assistance, as it would be necessary to amputate the boy’s leg. Dr Stewart, accompanied by Inspector Thompson, then drove to the spot. Mrs Anderson and her boy were taken to the house of Mr George Rogers, where everything was done for them that could be done in the circumstances. > At daylight on Sunday morning the poor’little fellow was placed under chloroform, and had his left leg amputated. The little sufferer lost very little blood under the operation, which is so far in favour of his speedy recovery. The coach which was sent on Saturday evening, returned yesterday at noon with the driver and several of the passengers. Mrs Anderson and the boy were brought in by Tommy Pope, Dr Halley thinking it would ’be much better for both of them if they were removed to the hospital. On enquiry at the hospital this morning, we were glad to he informed that they were both doing well. The two Chinamen, who received scalp wounds and were taken to the hospital, appeared to he taking it very easy. We regret, however, to learn that another of Mr Anderson’s children, a little girl, has been badly crushed. Dr Stewart visited her at the station this morning, and found that she had received severe injuries to her kidneys. Great sympathy is expressed for Mr Anderson in the frightful calamity which has overtaken his family ; and it is to be hoped that a searching investigation will be made into the real cause of this accident. The following appears to have been the manner in which the accident occurred : —lmmediately on commencing the descent of the hill, the horses were going at a walking pace. The driver placed his foot on the brake, which snapped in two, throwing him on to the footboard of the coach, thus giving the horses their heads, and allowmg the full weight of the coach to run on tho horses, who immediately bolted down the hill at a mad gallop. It may be remarked that the horses were without breeching. The driver regained his seat and endeavoured to keep the team straight. One of the wheelers at the same time was kicking, and caused the coach to swerve to one side. On reaching the bottom of the steep hill, on nearly level ground, the kingbolt came out, separating lue fore carriage from the body of the coach.

Tho horses then bolted with the fore-car-riage, the coach toppling over down hill, turning completely over in a forward direction. The leaders, who were gallopping a good distance ahead, came in contact with the team of Mr M‘G awn’s waggon, the same which went over the bridge at Manuka Creek some time back, dragging the harness off the horses, and causing the team to take fright, which resulted in the breaking of the shafts and twisting of the axle of the waggon, and doing other damage. —Tuapeka Times. The Bruce Herald supplies the following additional particulars “ Mrs Anderson went on to the box seat at Roxburgh, having changed seats with her husband. Had there been a man on the box with the driver instead of a female, the accident might have been avoided, as there was another break bar on the near side, but Mrs Anderson was not able to use it, and consequently, after proceeding a few yards, the fore-carriage came away, and the coach made a complete jump over, and roljed on to the passengers—the horses running their mad career with the fore-carriage, and shortly coming in contact with the leaders of a loaded waggon, which was going up the hill. They ran completely between the waggon leaders, tearing the harness from them, and turning them completely round, and the driver, who was on the waggon box, whipping up the shatters, contrived to avoid a capske, but the waggon was pulled completely round and had two shafts broken and one axle bent. Mrs Anderson, who was so severely injured, is near her confinement. As to the cause of the sad affair, there is no doubt the breaking of the brake was the first cause, but to the want of breeching on the shatters is, no doubt, due some part of it, as once the brake failed to work, the horses became unmanageable, whereas had there been breeching, the shatters would have had some power to check the fearful speed of the coach ; and it is to be hoped this and other similar accidents will have the effect of the company using breeching on hilly roads. Mr (Jhaplin is always willing to allow the drivers to use breeching, but in future he ought to insist upon it.”