COACH ACCIDENT IN OTIRA GORGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 226, 18 June 1919, Page 6

COACH ACCIDENT IN OTIRA GORGE

/ TWO -MEN SEVERELY INJURED. The Secretary of the General Post Office last evening received the following message from the Chief Postmaster, Gieymouth, reporting a coaching accident ill the Otira Gorge. From Otira: ''Accident to coach occurred at 3 p.m. on its return journey from Arthur's Pass, at a place known as Candy's Hut. Two male passengers, jUr.'Kiiig, of Dunedin, and Mr. Wells, of llokitika, were severely injured, the former's arm being broken and left shoulder blade damaged, while tho latter received severe injuries to his back. Both men were sent to Greymoutli Hospital by train, which was detained for one hour. The coach was owned by C'assidy and Hall, arid was driven by Arthur Douglas. It is believed the accident occurred through one of tho horses falling and causing the. coach to be thrown heavily against an embankment. The' mails were not damaged." (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Greymouth, Juno 17. .An accident occurred in tho Otira Gorge to-day at 3 p.m. to one of the mail coaches, which was on tbe return trip from Arthur's Pass. When about three miles from Otira, at a. place known as Candy's Hut, a steej> hill, one: horse is understood to. have fallen, precipitating the vehicle against an embankment and scattering the passengers in nil directions. Two men were severely injured mid three others suffered minor injuries, Thn first-mentioned are Mr. Wells (ot Woodstock, Westlaud), whose back va« severely hurt, and Jlr. King (of Invcrcargitl), who has an injury to tho shoulder blade and arm. Two horses out of the five were lost. The mail 9 were on this coach, but wero not damaged. The train wa3 delayod .at Otira for an hour, and brought all (ho 6utferers to Greymouth. Dr. Johnston, the now Grey Jiivcr Hospital Superintendent, waq making tho overland .journoy and rendered aid to the injured. '