Fatal Coach Accident at Kiwitea

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 114, 20 March 1890, Page 2

Fatal Coach Accident at Kiwitea

—♦ AN OLD MAN KILLED.

It is with considerable regret that we have to report a' fatal accident as having happened in connection with one of Mr Daw's conveyances, yesterday., We may state at once that it was not to one of the passenger coaches, the mishap occurred, but to a brake generally used for the carriage of goods, Ac. When Mr Sommeryille, the driver started at the usual hour in the morning, about eight o'clock, with a team of four horses, he had a full load (27cwt) of miscellaneous goods, Ac., and one passenger, Mr E. Gardiner, of Birmingham, with him on the box. Arriving at Cheltenham, another passenger named Fortune Gilmour, an elderly man, was picked up. Everything went well ; until -they came to an incline between' Major Moore's* and Mr Haythorne's. The brake on being applied slipped off the . wheel, and Sommerville then tried to poll : the horses into the bank ; ; one wheel got 1 off ihe road, and when -the weight of the heavy vehicle got on the pole it snapped. 1 The brake then gave a lurch and rolled clean oyer the embankment info the gully. Before, that the driver sung out, for the passengers to jump, but whether, they heard him or hot he could not tell. He i never left his seat and went over with the trap, holding on to the reins. When they finished rolling, SommerviDe found he 1 had a wheel lying across his body; the horses in plunging kicked him in the face, ; and cut him about a good deal, but they dragged the wheel off -and set him at liberty. He then saw Gilmour among the horses, one of them lying on him, and he (Sommerville) crawled to Gilmour and ] taking hold of him by the coat, hauled Gilmour out. Gilmour . cried out "Oh my arm," but remained silent afterwards. '< Mr Gardiner got off pretty clear, but was ; bruised a bit. S. J, Thompson's express coming along Mr Sommerville sent Gil- • mour on to. Lowes'' Hotel, and James ' Perrin-went for Dr Mussen to attend to the injured man. Mr Lowes came down ' with a coach and took the goods away. 1 The brake afterwards was got up on to the road, the pole temporarily spliced, ••" arid Ned Jbnes r droye ; it back to Feilding last night with a pair of the horses. Mr i Sommerville now lies at Hastie's Hotel, L where he is attended by Dr Charlton. \ He. is much bruised about the body, and ' his face is cut and injured, besides being 1 slightly hurt internally, and he does not expect to get about for: a few days. L' The inquest -on GilmbuV will be held at the Birmingham Hotel to-morrow at 11 o'clock by-Mr G. M. Snelson, coroner? -'".-' [?RQH OUR KIWITEA. CO-RESPONDENT.] ' Yesterday, as Mr";S. I)aw's brake was 1 being driven to Birmingham* it wa's over--1 turned on the road about "two miles from | its; destination.- The vehicle was loaded. with stores, and on the box seat, besides '.' the driver, Mr R. Sommerville; were Mr R. Gardiner, buildejr, and a man, F. Gil- ' mour, picked up at Cheltenham. When • going down the hill near the corner of L Kimbolton road the brake gave way, and t in endeavoring to keep the horses on the ; cutting the pole broke, .the whole concern going over the bank: Mr Gardiner, who i escaped with some .bruises, and .the driver, ' who was considerably cut about the face j and shaken, were soon on their feet, and discovered their fellow passenger underj neath one of the hordes. They extricated . him, and the injured man was taken to ; Lowes' Hotel, Mjr Lowes having sent his j brake down when he heard of the aooi- ) dent. Dr Mussen was sent fforr r but held out no hopes 'of the man's recovery. The \ unfortunate old man died at 7.80 'p-.ni., ) the cause of death being a broken arm, j severe" shock, and internal injuries. Deceased gave his name as Fortune Gilmour, aged 72. The driver of the coach recovr ered sufficiently to : take the damaged | vehicle back to Feilding, a number of residents having assisted in putting, it on • the road. — -■.-••■.■^■~,-~-r--.-- -