AN RUNAWAY HORSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1613, 3 December 1912, Page 7

AN RUNAWAY HORSE.

,- ;:■■■■•..- ■■ : : b-- . ■ TWO PEDESTRIANS GALLOPED , DOWN. A runaway, horse galloped down two pedestrians in the heart of tho city on Saturday afternoon,-and inflicted serious injuries on one of them—an elderly marlied, man, named James Kirk, a wharf labourer by occupation.. . The horse .was originally in harness in a gig, ownod by Mr. James 'Johnston, livery stable-keeper, of Barker Street. About 1.30 p.m. the. gig, which was in charge of Charles Mallowes, was standing in Victoria Street at the back of the Empire Hotel. Mallowes, it is stated, was waiting for a traveller, i and as the. latter did not coino out of tho hotel ho left tho gig and went to look for his man, and on returning tiro niinutos after discovered that the horse was gone. The animal had headed in a southerly direction, down Victoria Street, and on reaching the Public Library it collided with a telegraph post. Apparently finding the gig too cumbersome to permit of rapid progress, it left it on the road near the 'library, and then continued its mad career through Cuba Street to Hopper Street. It then, doubled back down Cuba Street and Manners Street to Willis Street. When opposite the office of the "Evening Post" it ran down James Kirk, who at that time was coming up Mercer Street. Kirk had endeavoured to step aside out of the way of the beast, tut was unablo to do so, and tho animal struck him on the' chest, knocking him violently to the gTound. A. little later it knocked down a man nnnied Mark Buddow, and before being stopped it collided with a buggy (owned by Mr. William Haines, of Mitchelltown). and did damage-to the extent of a few pounds. .' . As soon as assistance had been rendered to James. Kirk, lie was found to be very seriously injured. Dr. Pollen was summoned, and at once ordered the removal of the patient to the Hospital, whither he was taken in the ambulance. Hβ was suffering from a fracture of the base of- the skull, and, he succumbed on Sunday night. ■■-.-..

Mark Buddow, the second man, who was knocked down, was more fortunate. The horse struck him,a glancing blow, and the fall was not bo severe. Beyond beinjt badly shaken, Tie was none the worse for hie mishap, and was able to proceed home in a cab. Hβ is a labourer residing at Tory Placo. An inquest oonceraing the death of Kirk will be held to-day. .. ' . .