ACCIDENT IN THE GORGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 16, 17 December 1883, Page 3

ACCIDENT IN THE GORGE.

An accident befel Mr F. W. Evans, lately of the Rutland Hotel, Wanganui on Saturday afternoon, which might easily have been attended with more serious result than fortunately has to be recorded. He started with a buggy and pair from the Club Hotel, to go to Woodville. Those who are acquainted with the road through the Gorge will remember where the waterfall rushes down, and is such an object of terror to timid animals. It was here, we believe, that Mr Evans's team came to grief. The horses shied at the waterfall, and then commenced to kick violently, the body of the buggy finally being precipitated over the side of the road, and sustaining very serious damage. Mr Evans was pitched out on the road, fortunately escaping broken bones, but getting considerably bruised about the face and upper portion of his body. The horses tore onward through the Gorge with the pole of the wrecked vehicle until they were stopped at the toll gate at the bridge. Mr Evans made his way through to Woodville, comparatively sp aking, but little the worse for his misadventure. So far as we could hear, the horses were not injured, but the damage to the buggy is very considerable. Mr Evans may consider his escape from serious injury, or possibly even worse, as little short of miracle, as had the whole turn-out gone over the side into the river-bed beneath, a terrible accident would have had to be recorded. Mr Evans's friends may congratulate him on his providential escape. The part of the road where the accident occurred is about the most dangerous in the whole distance through the Gorge, and very few horses unused to the place will pass without showing signs of fear. The waterfall is in a partial recess in the rocks, and the traveller comes on it all at once, the noise and the rush of the falling stream being sufficient to startle the traveller as well as his steed. We often wonder when passing the spot by night or day, and noting its many and apparent dangers, that it has not claimed a full compliment of serious or fatal accidents, from which the road in question has enjoyed, an almost extraordinary immunity, considering the heavy traffic that is on it, and the reckless manner in which some teamsters drive, custom apparently familiarizing them with dangers which are only too obvious to those using the road for the first time. In Mr Evans' case the accident was due alone to the horses shoeing, as he has had much experience in driving, and is exceedingly careful on the road.