A FATAL ACCIDENT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 351, 26 November 1875, Page 3

A FATAL ACCIDENT.

A fatal accident occurred on Saturday evening, the 20th inst, to a .waggoner, named Charles who was well known in this district. The Bad affair occurred at the Rocky Cutting, a few miles from Jordan's Hotel, on the Palmerston and Macrae's Road. Gibbons and four other waggoners were proceeding (with loads of wool) front' Deep Dell Station consigned to Messrs Russell, Ritchie, & Co., Dunedin. Gibbons was last on. the road, and when coming down a steep incline his horses bolted. ' On reaching a portion of the, road where there is a turn and a deep gully winding along the side of a.hill, the waggon capßised over the enbankment, and Gibbons unfortunately was sitting at the.side to which the waggon tilted, and four bales of wool fell,on his head and broke his neck. His right leg caught under the side of the waggon 5 " smashing it almost to pieces, and the Beat on which the unfortunate man was -sitting was deeply embedded in his left Bide—-death must have been instantaneous, as when his mates, who were only some twenty or thirty yards ahead, came to his assistance, and lifted him from under the wool, they found that he was quite dead.' One ol them caught hold of his head, and'found that his neck was broken. From what cause the horses bolted.we were unable to learn. Gibbons had two young colts in the team; it. was only Ltheir second trip, on the road, and his mates think that it was one of jthe colts that caused the other horses to ,take. fright. Latterly, Gibbons had been very unfortunate, as only four weeks ago his waggon was capsised near Blueskin, and one of his horses was then killed >—An inquest was held on the body yesterday, by J. M. Murdoch, Esq., R.M.; coroner for the district. The Jury returned a verdict of accidental death. There was also a rider that that portion :*of ■ the -road/ .was .highly dangerous; ; ■ •■; John -M'Kenaie, Esq.,! M.P.C. acted, as /foreman., Times.* -v. • , t f ?