NARROW ESCAPE of FATHERS McDonald & GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1055, 30 March 1882, Page 4

NARROW ESCAPE of FATHERS McDonald & GENERAL.

A cab accident, which there is too much reason to believe will prove fatal to one person, occurred shortly after 8 o’clock on the night of the 22nd inst. in West Queen-street, Auckland. The section of West Queen-street between Albert and Chapel street is, like many other portions of the city, in a dangerous slate while the main drains are being laid. The drain in this instance was not the cause of the accident, but the culpable negligence of some one in leaving a heap of clay on the road without a light or without room for a driver of a cab to escape the ridge over the drain pipe on the one hand or the heap of clay on the other.

At about 8 o’clock Mr H. Brunton, driving his own cab and pair of horses s.aited from the Catholic Presbytery, with Father Garavel, Father Waller McDonald, and Mr P. Darby inside passengers, while a boy about 12 years of age, named C. McLaughlin (son of I the late Mr B. McLaughlin, auctioneer, of Whangarei) was on the box seat with the driver. All went right until the junction of West Queenstreet with Albert-street was almost reached when a shock was experienced, and the off side of the cab was lifted high in the air. The inside occupants were shot out on the road, the forecarriage of the cab came to pieces, the springs, kingbolt, and other fixings being smashed, and the frightened horse endeavored to carry the capsized vehicle along the road. The driver and the boy McLaughlin were pitched out, the boy falling at the hoofs of the struggling horses. Mr and Mrs J. C. Young and a number of others had just come out of doors to ascertain where the fire was, about which the alarm was rung, and Mr Young, on looking under the trap, observed a boy’s legs kicking amongst the debris. He at once gave the alarm, and was assisted by willing hands to lift the front of the vehicle to give the boy a chance for life. Advantage was taken of this, and young McLaughlin was dragged out on the opposite side by Mr and Mrs Longbottom, Mrs Ritchie and others. He was bleeding profusely. Indeed, there was a great pool of blood where he lay, and his blood could be traced for several yards. Without waiting to notice this his rescuers at once carried him to D . Lee’s residence at the opposite side of the street. Dr. Lee, however, declined to deal with the case, and recommended his instant removal to tl e hospital. Mr and Mrs Longbottom and Mrs Ritchie procured a cab, and took the poor lad to the hospital, where he was promptly received and treated by Dr. Philson. The doctor was unable to give any hope that the boy could recover. His skull is smashed, and he has lost a great deal of blood. The poor lad is the sun < f a widow woman, residing in Alexan-dra-street, who earns a livelihood for herself and family by washing. The poor little fellow' was in a semi-cons-cious state after reaching the hospital, and kept calling to his brother to come to bed, and complained of feeling cold. Beyond the shock, Fathers Garavel and McDonald and Mr Darby appear to have eseaped without injury beyond a few bruises, but the cabman is seriously lamed. The wonder is that all those in the vehicle were not seriously hurt. We have no wish to elaborate on this accident, especially as no doubt the City Council and the contractuwill have to answer for it before a competent Court There has been the grossest carelessness —indeed, recklessness—shown, for it was impossible for any vehicle to pass between the mound and the drain ridge, and there was no light, nor any warning. The cab is irretrievably smashed, the cabman is seriously lamed, and a life to all intents and purposes lost through gross negligence on the part of someone. We do not say who is to blame. That is a subject tor after consideration. Mr. Archibald, of Mount Eden, is, we arc informed, the contractor for the drainage work in W est Queenstreet. After seeing Father Garavel off in the Union Co.’s s.s. Rotorua for Sydney, Father Walter, with thoughtful kindness, proceeded to the Hospital to see the little boy McLaughlin, who had been injured. He found that the house surgeon, Mr. Cooper, had done all that was possible under the circum stances, and after staying with the half unconscious lad till near midnight, he came back to town, with the intention of returning early tnismorning. The extent of the injuries of the boy are not yet clearly ascertained, but during to-day the real state of the matter will be made known. Father Walter has received a slight contusion of the left knee and some bruises about the hands, and Father Garavel also was considerably shaken. The cabman, Mr Brunton, and the mother of the little fellow were also up at the hospital last night, in order to ascertain his condition, and to see if anything could be done to minister to his comfort. —A. Z. Herald.

A. lady once said a good lawn dress should wash well. Doesn’t a good laundress wash well ?

“ William, try and spell cat, hat, and rat, with only one letter for each word.” “ 1 will not try, for it can’t be done.” “ Can’t eh ? Just look here — f hBO hat, rBO rat. ’!