AN EXCITING GALLOP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3335, 29 September 1911, Page 7

AN EXCITING GALLOP.

MAHUTONCA TAKES CONTROL. COLLISION ON HAITI BRIDGE. Mahutonga, the hero of the AY inter Cup and Auckland Cup in 1904, caused some excitement in Gladstone Road yesterday by careering madly along the street and eventually bringing the gig to which h© Avas attached into violent collision Avith Mr P. AV. Sargisson’s spring drays on the Kaiti bridge, Avrecking the gig completely, and breaking a wheel off the dray. It appears that the horse had only recently been broken into harness, and this AA’as his fourth appearance betAveen the shafts of a vehicle, and he Avas being driven in a gig along Gladstone Road by Messrs AV. C. Whitfield and S. McConnell. AVhen opposite the Royal Hotel he took fright, and Mr Whitfield, Avlio Avas driving, AA r as unable to pull him up. He galloped at a great rate along the street, but Mr Whitfield managed. to avoid an accident till reaching the Kaiti bridge. Just as the runaAA'ay approached the bridge Mr A. AVebb Avas driving a spring cart across it in the opposite direction, and was folloAved by Mr P. Sargisson’s dray'. Mr AVebb saAV the runaAvay approaching, and attempted to get clear, and he managed to turn. There Avas, however, not quite sufficient room on the bridge, and his vehicle received a fairly heavy bump, which started his horse off in the direction of Kaiti. but he Avas able to pull the animal up before it Avent very tar. The driver of the spring dray Avas not so fortunate, as just as he sAvung round the runaAvay collided : with the dray, breaking off one of the Avheels at the axle.

The occupants of the gig, Messrs Whitfield and McConnell, Avere tliroAvn out and escaped with a shaking and slight bruises, but the drivers of the other vehicles were unhurt. Both shafts of the gig Avere broken, and it was considerably damaged about, the body. The occupants had marvellous escapes, and it looked Avhen the runaAvay got on to the bridge that the inevitable collision would result in a much more serious accident.