COACH COLLISION

Patea Mail, 28 October 1880, Page 3

COACH COLLISION

AT MANAWAPOU BRIDGE. The down conch from Hawcra was extra full yesterday noon, and in descending the winding cutting from Manawnpon hill, at a speed which passengers didn’t like, the coach dashed against the north buttress of the bridge. The shock was so severe that the kingbolt gave way, and the four frightened horses dashed on with the shafts and two front wheels, nearly running into a vehicle farther on, but were stopped. The body of the coach was left a shattered wreck and full of passengers, Mr P. H. Brett and another with the driver had been on the box seat. . Two were thrown over the bridge down fifty feet into the river; the driver falling on the roadway. Mr Chalmers was also thrown from the top of the coach into the water, and supported himself by holding to a snag. Mr Brett was in the worst plight. Ha had been seated f'*’’ in the middle of the box seat, and being thrown against the rail of the bridge, ho was stunned and helpless. He could not stand, and said he felt an internal bleeding in the chest. <H6w did the inside passengers get through the smash ? Four ladies, two children, and Mr Hugh Owen were inside passengers; and as the conch rattled down the long descending hill the ladies were talking of a fright they had had with the same coachdriver in a previous journey, and were expressing hopes and doubts about the pace at which they were approaching the bridge, when smash went the whole concern. They were all in a heap instantly, screaming, struggling, and grasping at each other for support. They knew they were still alive, but couldn’t bo sure how much they were hurt; hut Mr Owen picked himself out of the wreck, and then helped out the women and children : all—thank goodness !—more frightened than hurt. Two outside passengers were struggling in the water at the same time, and could not got a footing on the steep faccofrock: while Mr Chalmers musthavc drowned if help had not been rendered promptly by Mr Owen and the driver. Mr Chalmers, thrown from the coach-top into the water, was almost insenseusible, but the sudden immersion, rallied him, and he hold on to a snag, and got hauled up the steep bank with difficulty. The other passenger who foil in the river was much cut about the hands, and resumed the journey with Ids head in a gory bandage. The driver was active in rescuing the unfortunates from the river. How much he is answerable for putting them there is an open question, though the passengers don’t hesitate to express a strong and united opinion. The coach being smashed, what was to be done ? A conveyance was obtained from Mr Henry Young, who farms land near the Mauawapon ; and most of the passengers were brought on to Patea, arriving about five o’clock, an hour and a half late. An emergency coach kept in the Patea stable was brought into use. and the regular journey was resumed southward, but too late for the evening train at Waitotara. Mr Brett was left at the scone of the collision, ami a buggy was procured later to take him back to Hawcra, to receive careful nursing at his home. A question of compensation for damages might be awkward for the parties concerned. Mr Owen stopped with Mr Brett until assistance arrived, and then got a seat with Mr Wanklyn, who was coming to Patea in a buggy to fetch the fish ova brought by the steamer for the Acclimatisation Society. Mr Wanklyn had a lucky escape, in this way. He had intended to come by the coach from Hawera, and there being room only on the top, ho got up, but not liking that windy position on a bleak day, with a fast whip at the front, he prudently got down. Lucky for him !