Narrow Escape,

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7080, 28 February 1893, Page 2

Narrow Escape,

An accident occurred recently ou the Shippers road, Queenstown, which, though fortunately unattended with loss of life, do serves mention as being one of the narrowest escapes from death that we remember, realising the truth of the old adage that truth is stronger than fiction. Two Englishmen, tourists—Mr Chamberlin and Mr Grigg,—started on Sunday for a drive to Skippers mine by the new road, cut out of the face of tbs rook, probably not more than 12ft wide anywhere, and in places less, and varying in height from 60ft to 680 ft. All went well till the accommodation house called “ Th« Welcome Some” was reached, when, for some unknown reason, the maro on the off-eide commenced kicking violently, and, getting her leg over the polo, was joined by the horse, took the bits in their teeth, and dashed furiously down the steep decline. Mr Grigg, who was sitting behind, here managed to jump off and escaped uninjured. In the ciistauco the occupants of the buggy could sse the bridge spanning The Gully creek at an obtuse angle to the road and both fait that instant death awaited them in the river below. By same marvellous chance, however, the now infuriated and uncontrollable animals crossed safely, and turning a sharp angle, continued their headlong course. By this time the pole was broken in two and the situation was critical. After a short distance had been gone in this way, the buggy was dashed violently against a rock and the driver was thrown out, fortunately falling clear of the precipice and also the carriage. Mr Chamberlin, however, had po such luck, and was pitched over the dasher, and in falling must have caught bis foot in the brake, for the next thing he remembered was being dragged at a great pace under the buggy, with bis foot firmly fixed in the brake. Fortunately for him, just as he gave up hope the buggy again struck a rock, and the horses stood still for sufficient length of time to allow the driver who was running behind, to seize their heads.

Mr Chamberlin describee it as seeming ages before the driver came up, though probably it was not more than half a minute. Under suoh circumstances wo can imagine it seeming an eternity. He had quite given himself up for lost, and fully expected to be hurled with the buggy and horses into the torrent below. On Mr Grigg arriving, he and the driver proceeded to take the horses out. Mr Chamberlin was now lying in almost an impossible position. His right leg was twisted up under the axle and the foot firmly wedged iu tbe iron part of the brake os though screwed in with a vice, and all the endeavours of his friend and the driver to release him from his position were unavailing. It was not until the driver had ridden to the bouse and obtained a spanner and disconnected the brake that Mr Chamberlin was released from his perilous position, which ho describes as one of intense pain. Perhaps the most wonderful thing of all considering the position Mr Chamberlin was in, and that be was dragged in this position for a considerable distance, is the fact that he escaped with a severe shaking and a multitude of bruises and contusions. On their way back to the house they noticed in several places where the wheels of the carriage had been quite over the edge of the precipice, and cime to the conclusion that only the great pace at which they had been travelling saved them from a horrible death. Having obtained horses at the house, the party returned to Queenstown. Mr Chamberlin, though very stiff and unable to move much, made the journey down here on Monday. We expect it will be a long time before he forgets bis drive to Skippers, being, as he says, the only unpleasant recollection he will take back with him to the old country.-- | Otago Daily Tims- •