COACH OUT OF HAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1344, 23 January 1912, Page 5

COACH OUT OF HAND.

« ON SLOPE NEAR CASS, PASSENGERS' PERILOUS TIME. (By Telegraph,—Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, January 22. The trip overland from Greymouth 10 Christchurch to-day wns marked by a rather sensational coach accident, which must have ended fatally had not something little short of a miracle intervened. Tho Greymouth train reached Otira about half an hour behind time, but, for the first time for nearly a week, the coaches crossed tho Otira. There were eight coaches in all —ihrco of the Moynihail Line and five of Cassidy's, tho total number of passengers being about eighty. Tho road was rough and tho rivers high, but the journey passed without event until the white bridge at Arthur's nif' on 10 Bo!,lc >" side, was rcach<d. Ill© coaches left the Glacier Hotel in good order, and all, with tho exception* of Moynihon's seoond drag (driven by Bob. Goodger), duly readied Cass. Wheu some twenty minutes had elapsed, and the missing coach failed to put in an appearance, anxiety was felt, and rumours of an accident began to be circulated. After some time Moynihan's other two coaches returned along, tho road to the Bealey to render assistance, if necessary. Some tciise minutes followed, when the figure of a horseman, was seen galloping along the road to tho station. Presently a white-faCcd rider gasped out the news: "Another accident' at -Paddy's Bend." Another anxious interval ensued, and then Goodgcr's coach, followed by one of ' tho relief coaches, came into the station. Goodger was driving with his head ban- , <tagcd, and the passengers Hcrnuitjiod our, bearing all the marks of an accident. inquiries elicited that the beginning of the steep descent leading to Paddy's Bend wax negotiated at a walking pace, but it was soon apparent that the brakes wcro not acting properly, and the coach, gathering way/began to press on the horses. One ot the male passengers, who had noticed similar symptoms at an earlier stage of the journey promptly made hia escape ovor the back cf the vehicle, and his example was speedily followed" by otheif. • Meanwhile tho coach, increasing in momentum as it went, was swaying' and lurching dangerously, and it seemed to the frightened passengers. that each moment would take them over the cliif into the river.. bolo iv. The driver (Goodger) wns manfully doing his bc.st to guide the fivo horses round the sharp curves, and lie cried to those sitting behind, to hold himon to his seat, 'llie alarthed passengers failed, ho.vevcr, to grasp the meaning,' and then catuc a catastrophe. The coach gave a tremendous lurch, and Goodger was hurled from his peat, and his head hit-' ting against the cliff, he fell prostrate in the road. , The passengers, terrified hy the sudden exit of the driver, scrambled and tumbled out of the coach, which was bcitig dragged along by the horses at headlong speed, On the box seat sat an elderly mijn (Mr. Adams, of Waltham), with his married daughter and his little grandchild. Their situation was perilous, and they had given up hope when one of the shatters on the near side, becoming entangled in the traces, stumbled and fell breaking his legs. Tho fall of tho horse brought the pole to the ground, and this, acting as a brake, slopped the coach at the bottom of the hill. Except for the severe fright and shaking, Sir. Adams and his daughter and grandchild sustained 110 injury. The passengers Were quickly brought to the station, and embarked on the train, whero the needs of the wounded were attended to by a lady who had evidently taken her ambulance course. One passenger, who had his hand badly cut and bruised, was Mr. Fass, of, .Greymouth, who had been married that morning, and was, with his bride, on board the runaway, eu routo to Christchurch. Another passenger,' Who escaped with a few scratches, was Mr. W. G. M'Ewau, of ■ lieefton, who was coming overland to lake, part ill the band contest. For the most part the sufferers made light of their injuries, but, by the tiJne the train reached Ohristclnirch, they were all beginning to feel .extremely stiff and sore. So far as can be ascertained, the names of those travelling in the ooach when tho accident occurred nro as follow:—Bob Goodger, driver (severely cut about the lioad and face) ;Mr. and Mrs. Yass, Greymouth: Jlr. Fass (hand badly cut arid hruised); Mrs. Fass (unhurt); Leslie Blair, Sydenham (knee badlv cut and bruised); W. Bone, Ahaura (liand badly hurl); S. 1?. .Holmes, Greymouth (head scratched and bruised); M. Sara, Reefton (lightly bruised); Richard White,' Reefton (a few scratches), Mr. Adams, Waltham, daughter, and grand-daughteT (all.unhurt); W. G. M'Ewan, Reefton (nn-. hurt); E. Comerford, Greymouth (ur.-' hurt); C. Free, New Plymouth, unhurt,