COACH ACCIDENT

Manawatu Herald, Volume 06, Issue II, 6 December 1889, Page 2

COACH ACCIDENT

Thursday morning last will bo a day engraven on the minds of somo of the travellers between Foxton and "Wellington^ as having experienced a narrow escape from a very nasty accident.

Messrs Bradcock and Gray's four horse coach left Whyte's hotel in the morning at the usual hour, talcing the regular mails, and a larg-d number of passengers amongst whom were Messrs Skerrett, Jack and Whyte. As tho coach driven by Mr Gay, got onto tho punt at Wfrokino to cross the river, foi* somo reason the punt heeled over and eventually sunk. Mr Gay after having got on the punt noticed something wrong with it, and for a tinio steadied it, by turning the team over to the high side, and he then sang out to the pass«igev». -to jump ashore. Tho punt then canted right over, throwing the coach on its side and breaking the pole. Tho leaders were cut away and swam across tke river, and the two polers reached tho shore this side after some time elapsed and part of tho punt had boon cut to free them. The regular ferryman was not in attendance, aud it is presumed that the accident arose from the punt being full of water.

The hands omployed at Seymour's mill, brought a boat across, aiif] tool; Mr Skerrett over, as h-> had determined to Avalk on to the railway and wait for tho afternoon train. The other passengers after a time returned to Foxton in the ferry boat.

Mr Gay says that the bottom of th# punt is rotten, as when is ho heeled over ho saw par- of it broken away. Messrs Bradccok aid Gay at present h&YJ £ offered o-. ji.-Umt-able loss, as the coach ovi-ntu.ally slippedoff the punt and has sunk in the river, and a lot of thy harness--. has also gon~. The havaesss mi t:uleaders appears to huvoboen saved, the mill hauls havii" 1 iva-.yi tlio horses of it,, atcei' landing o.i t'leir side. One of the poler:; >< inuise Ito grasetUo noavost pacUkck. but tlio

other roturnodjto his stable in a great fright, tho water dripping off him even when lie had "reached home, so ho must have made good time.

Tho mails woto sout by tho aftor noon train.

It is a mattorof congratulation that the accident was not worse, as had it occurred in mid stream, instead ef close to shoro, lives must have been lost.

Ths punt question has now assumed a moro prominent question than ovtfr for tho Borough to deter mine.

The coach will run via Shannon for a time.