THE FATAL COACH ACCIDENT.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1303, 23 May 1878, Page 2

THE FATAL COACH ACCIDENT.

We take the following account of the fatal coach accident near Hampden from the " North Otago Times" of May 22nd:— Great excitement was caused in town last evening by the receipt of telegrams announcing that the coach had capsized at the Horse Range, with fatal results. We received a telegram despatched from Hampden by one of the passengers, announcing that Mr Nicholls had been killed, and that several others were seriously injured, and were subsequently informed that two of the sufferers had died of their injuries, viz., the driver and Mr Maitland. A telegram despatched by Mr Kerr of the National Bank, who had gone down to Paluaerston by the morning train, warned the hospital committee that the wounded passengers, to the number of eight, were coming up by special train, and every preparation was at once made to receive them, all the spare beds, including those in the fever ward, being got in readiness, fires lighted, &c., while cxpi'esscs, matfrasses, and cabs were in attendance at the railway station. Sub-Inspector Smith, who had also been communicated with, was also in waiting! with Sergeant Beattie and two constables, while Dr. Garland was likewise present ready to give any medical aid required. The platform was crowded with people long before the train arrived, and bad as the details of the accident afterwards proved to be, yet the truth was less terrible than it was painted by rumour, which grew darker as the suspense lengthened. At length (at about 9.15 p.m.) the train arrived, and the work of disembarking the injured passengers was at once proceeded with. It was then found that the reported fatal nature of the accident was only too true as regarded one of the coach passengers, that one being Mr Charles Nichols, of Messrs Dalgety, Nichols and Co., Duncdin, whose body was removed to the Northern Hotel, to await the inquest. He seems to have been killed on the spot, his head being apparently fearfully smashed, and covered with blood. Another passenger was carried out and laid on a mattrass in an express, which carried him to the residence of Mr Kerr, National Bank. This was Master Maitland, a son of Mr Maitland, Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands. He is, wo learn, seriously injured. Goddard. the driver of tho coach, was also carried from the train to an express, and driven to his own residence. He too is badly hurt, but, it is hoped, not dangerously. Another passenger, whoso name we did not learn, and who appeared to be suffering considerably, was carried to a cab and taken to the Hospital, and two other passengers, Mr M'Nicol (late of the Commercial Hotel), and Mr Maudesley, carpenter, were somewhat severely cut and bruised. The rest of the passengers were able to walk to their hotels or other destinations. Mr W. Moody, who was in the coach at the time of the accident, had a very narrow escape, being inside when it rolled over the embankment, but sustained only slight injuries: a young woman, who was another inside passenger, also escaping almost unhuit. Erom the particulars we were able to gather last night, it would seem that the accident haimcned eomowhat as follows : —While coming down the Horse Range, on the Hampden side, one of the traces came unhitched, and flaping about the horse's legs, caused it to become restive, and Maitland, whose foot was on the brake, was shaken off, falling among the horse's feet, and in his fall dragging the reins out of Goddard's hands. The horses thus released galloped at full speep dowj the hill, as it would appear dragging Maitland with them, when, after going a few yards, they capsized the coach at the turn below the cave, the vehicle falling over the embankment a distance of 40ft. turning over and over in its descent. News was sent to Hampden as soon as possible, and assistance telegraphed for, and, as we have before said, the unfortunate passengers were brought on to Oamaru by special train, despatched for the purpose by Mr Back, Acting Railway Manager, who, in common with the rest of the officials, did everything possible to meet the emergency.

Since writing the above the following further particulars have been supplied to us : —Mr Frank Pulton was on the box seat, having Mr Maitland's son on his knee, and when the coach went over, he, Mr Fulton, was one of a fortunate few who were able to spring clear of the vehicle, but still sustained some injuries, the others escaping with but slight bruises. Mr A. Chetham Strode, of Dunedin, had two sons on the coach, who were a good deal contused, but fortunately escaped with their lives, though we are sorry to hear that one of them had his arm fractured. Goddard—whose name is familiar to all travellers between Oamaru and Dunedin —has also suffered severely ; a circumstance which will be regretted by the many friends he has made on his thousands of safe and pleasant journeys, who all know him for the steadiest and most careful of drivers, he having driven over the range for some seven or eight years, and having never met with an accident—certainly not a fatal one—even on this dangerous piece of road until, strangely pnough, this, the last day of the running of the coach on this sfcuge. Mr Back, the Acting-Manager of the Canterbury Railways, happened to be at Palmerston on a special journey, when a telegram, sent from Hampden by Mr Bell, jim., who was driving northwards in a buggy, came through to that place telling of the accident, and he at once despatched a special train to the scene of the occurrence ; and we cannot but accord him a high meed of praise for the promptitude which he displayed under the trying circumstances. The train stopped opposite Kartigi, to the hotel at which place the sufferers had been taken, and yhere thoy were attended to by Dr. Brown, who administered such relief as was in his power. Messrs Shrimski, Alison Smith, and Kerr, were in (lie special train, and they. together with others, did their duty in assisting in looking after the sufferers, and having them conveyed to the train, which arrived in Oamaru at a quarter pr.st. nine, the accident having taken place about four o'clock in a lonely spot some Jive miles away from any railway station. It appears that there were some fourteen passengers in the coach at the time of the accident, amongst those who were more or less injured, in addition to those mentioned already, being Mr Hunter, of Wellington ; Mr Bishop, of the "Sun" newspaper, Christchurch ; Mr Cullis Hill, of Melbourne; Mr J. Cameron, Timaru ; and Mr Valpy, of Dunedin. Master Maitland, who, we understand, was on his way to school at Christchurch, is reported to have been terribly injured, having sustained concussion of the brain, and having had one of his sides dreadfully lacerated.