FEARFUL ACCIDENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 105, 22 August 1876, Page 2

FEARFUL ACCIDENT.

A correspondent of the Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser gives -the following account:—"An accident which might have been attended with serious, if not fatal, consequences occurred in Collinsstreet East, owing to the running away of a wheelbarrow. A small boy with a large load of clean linen, which he was conveying from the maternal laundry in North Richmond to a well-known hostelry in town, found himself, on descending the hill near the Scots Church, entirely overpowered by the increasing momentum of the uni-cycled vehicle. It rushed down the slope with fearful velocity, dragging the poor boy after it, pale and speechless with terror. Many bystanders witnessed the spectacle, but were paralysed by affright. On sped the barrow in its wild career, like the untamed steed, upon the back of which the hapless Mezeppa was stretched, until the channel was reached at the foot of the hill, when the infuriated bi-manual, bi-pedal carriage gave a lurch to leeward, and was capsized in the dark impetuous stream. The poor boy met with a similar fate, as a matter of course. But a dozen brave hearts witnessed the fearful disaster, and two dozen manly hands were stretched forth to rescue him from a watery grave. The pittiless current was cheated of its human prey. He was dragged to land and speedily conveyed to the nearest chemist's shop, where lie received prompt and skilful attention. It was found that the skin on the tip of his nose had been abraded, and that some water from the channel had run down the small of his back. But his case yielded to surgical and thearpeutic treatment, and no immediate danger is expected to arise. I grieve to add that, in the confusion whicli ensued, the basket of linen —no longer clean, alas ! —disappeared, and has no+ since been heard of. The wheelbarrow was conveyed to the lock-up, on a charge of having been drunk and disorderly ; but will probably be discharged to-morrow morning with a reprimand.