AN AUSTRALIAN BOY’S POWER OF ENDURANCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 779, 23 March 1877, Page 4

AN AUSTRALIAN BOY’S POWER OF ENDURANCE.

An accident of a shocking nature which befell an unfortunate lud near Cooma is thus detailed by the Mannro Mercury:—William, eldest son of Mr Thornton, builder, started with a waggonette, ia**which were two of his brothers, from the homestead, a selection at Dairyman’s Plains, intending to leave his brothers at Cooma public school, about four miles away. They parsed M r Oches’ residence a little before eight o’clock, and all went well till the hill was topped. Descending the hill on the Cooma side it was discovered that the bolt or pin securing the shafts of the waggonette had dropped out. The boy William, who is about sixteen years of ago, diove cautiously. But in consequence of the shafts swaying about, and part of the timber knocking against the horse’s legs, the animal grew restive, and at length, hecomingunmanageable,bolted. As'the horse was galloping along, kicking and struggling to free himse f flora the vehicle, Willie Thornton, the driver, was pitched out, filling on his side; his arm and shoulder were bruised. It is presumed that the younger hov, Charley, attempted to jump out, or let himself down the side of the vehicle as it was rapidly borne along. He slipped, however. Instantaneously one of his legs was can "lit and jammed in the narrow space between the spokes of the wheel, near the box. He lay suspended, his head downwards. As the wheel rapidly revolved the boy’s leg was twisted with it, his body remaining stationary. For full twenty yards, perhaps move, did the wheel revolve with the little boy affixed thereto. Where the boy had dragged, across the brambles, and over the green turf, the tracks were discernible. 'J he leg was fractured in several places, the flesh torn, and the sinews broken. Ultimately the right leg was wrenched off about mid way between the knee and ankle, but rather closer to the knee, the muscles having been drawn from above the knee and severed, and the bones broken in two. The maimed boy was thrown to the earth. The third boy still retained bis seat. A few yards further the waggon was brought into violent contact with a scout sapling, which it broke off short, so great being the force of the collision that the shafts were freed from the woggunette, and carried off by the runaway horse. The boy remaining in the vehicle fortunately escaped without a scratch. Under the buegy wheel, yards away from where the poor boy lay, the severed portion of his right leg in the boot was found. Though tire boy must have experienced intense agony, his spirit was indomitable ; there was not a murmur from him. Then began the painful journey homewards. Being raised, he stood on his uninjured leg, and he got on his brother William’s back, the other brother carrying the boot containing the foot and portion of the leg. Taking him on their backs in turn, the mutilated lad standing on one leg while one brother relieved the other, they conveyed him thus three-quarters of a mile, to Mrs Oches’ place. Word was sent to their mother, who could scarcely believe what she heard. Mrs Thornton ran to the place immediately, and cut the boot and took out the foot attached to the mangled leg. A messenger was promptly despatched for medical aid, and Dr Clifford arrived about an hour after he was called on. Tie was accompanied by Dr Donovan,who had also been summoned to attend The little fellow did not bleed much, ic was said, and appeared to suffer -little pain. He was quite chatty, and readily repeated his account of the accident that had visited him with such great injury. It was decided by both surgeons to have the sufferer removed to Cooma hospital, when, after Drs Clifford and Donovan had held a consultation with Dr Daniel chloroform was administered to the hov, and Dr Clifford, to save his life, resolved to amputate his leg above the knee.