PETERSFIELD
Agent—MR. G. DUPLOCK
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—CAUTION TO CARTERS.—On Tuesday, the 23rd ult., a man named John Croucher, in the employ of the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, at Fair Oak, went to North-end Farm, near Hollycomb, to fetch a straw elevator, a lofty trough used with a threshing machine, it was drawn by two horses, and being placed in a sloping direction projected considerably over the head of the thill horse. Croucher had taken the precaution of placing a piece of sacking above the horse’s blinkers so as to prevent his seeing the overhanging trough; but by some means this piece of sacking slipped down, and the horse catching sight of the huge object over his head became frightened and started off, the driver seized the horse’s head and endeavoured to stop him but in vain, and after hanging on for some distance he fell and the wheels passed over his body. Mr. Cross of the firm of Whicher and Cross, of this town, happened most opportunely to be passing at the time and immediately rendered his professional assistance. The injuries sustained were such that but for the prompt and skilful aid thus rendered the poor man must have died on the spot. He was conveyed to his home at Habin, when on examination it was found that he had sustained a compound fracture of the lower jaw, a fracture of the right thigh, and of several ribs, a dislocation of the left collar- bone, and several severe lacerations and contusions on other parts of the body. The poor man lay in a most precarious state for some days, but Mr. Cross, with his usual skill, succeeded in reducing the whole of the fractures, and we understand there is reason to hope that the sufferer may survive the fearful crash which he sustained. The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Carnegie have been unremitting in their kindness and attention to the poor man, who bears an excellent character for sobriety and industry.