RONGOTEA COACHING FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 302, 15 May 1913, Page 6

RONGOTEA COACHING FATALITY.

FURTHER DETAILS. The Manawatu Times gives the following details of the terrible experience w nieh beiel the Rongotea coach which It't Palnierstou on Saturday afternoon. When about a mile this side of Ron-g-.tca, the horses bolted, killing the (h'iver, Archibald Eliott, instantly ov(rturned the coacn, and precipitated uith resultant bruises tiie two passengers, Messrs. Rev oh and Clausen, of Koiigotea. A FULL COACH. The coach left Pa'.merston on Saturday afternoon, witn a full complement of passengers, but gradually their numbers were lesseneu as various ones among them left tiie coach at their residences along tne road. The coach was due to reach Rongotea at 5.20 p.m., the trip occupying aDout two hours. It must have been about 5 o'clock when, the darkness becoming pronounced, the driver is said to have dismounted to light the lamps. There were then only two passengers, Messrs. Revolt and Clausen, left in the coach. Two distinct versions of this stage of the proceedings are prevalent. One story upliolds the iamplighting theory, while the other alleges that the driver was thrown off his box while the coach was proceeding along the journey. LIGHTING THE LAMPS. The report which relates the lighting of the lamps suggests that the driver, having finished this operation; and after detaching the reins from the wheel, to which it is usual for drivers to fasten it, began -to mount again to his box seat. In doing so it is suggested that his foot (resting probably on the hub of the wheel) slipped, or that the horses, fidgeting to be off, started too soon, and caused Eliott to fall back to the road, still probably retaining his hold on the reins. AMONG FLYING HOOFS. Eliott!s crushed skull indicates that he received a blow from a horse's hoof, and a friend of Mr. Eliott's, accustomed to horses, is of opinion that in falling down the driver tightened the reins under a tail of the horse nearest to him and thus caused the animal to lash out. This explanation would account also for the speed at which the horses dashed away. Driveiiess, they sped furiously on for about 200 yards, and then swerved to the roadside, overturned the coach at an open drain, hurled the passengers out to the bank, and then proceeded to plunge in a manner which ensured for two of the horses mortal injuries. A SAD SPECTACLE. not long before the countryside was apprised of the catastrophe, and Dr. Standahl and Constable Martin were summoned. Some proceeded back over the road in search* of Eliott, who was found lying on the road, with his smashed head in a pool of blood. His had been a swift, painless end. He was quite dead. The two passengers, Messrs. Revolt and Clausen, are said to have been only slightly bruised (though of course much alarmed), and to have required no medical attention. The coach was smashed. THE DECEASED MAN. Mr. Archibald Eliott was a single man, aged about 34 years. He belonged to Timaru.' Two years ago he took over the coach business in partnership with Mr. H, Clark, buying it from Mr. Sam Paul, who is now licensee of the Phoenix Hotel, Palmerston. The occurrence has caused feelings of deepest concern and sympathy in Palmerston and, the outskirts.