The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954) Tuesday 17 January 1871 p 2 Article
CHAISE CART ACCIDENT
chaise cart of Mr. Edward Reardon, of Green Hills, Forcett. Mrs. K. Reardon was driving the cart containing her sister, Mrs. Bartholomew Reardon, who was nursing the baby of the former, only seven months old, a fourth occupant being a young female. When crossing the Iron Stone Creek wooden bridge, about a mile on the other side of Sorell, a fire was observed near one corner of the bridge, and, hearing the rumbling of the vehicle, an old pedlar and his wife, who had plainly encamped under the structure the night before, suddenly started up, and frightened the horse, which shied, and galloped off at great speed. The fair driver, with remarkable coolness, maintained command of the startled steed, which, however, through the narrowness of the road, plunged against a post and rail fence, and, singularly enough to say, fairly locked the cart in the fence. The occupants were, of course, inexpressibly alarmed, as the horse kicked and plunged to get away. At this perilous juncture, Mr. Edward Moore, jun., providentially rode up, instantly dismounted, and went to the relief, of the terrified ladies. This gentleman soon succeeded in releasing the cart, and pacifying the agitated and restive animal. The damage done to the vehicle was only slight. Happily, not one of the persons were hurt, except the poor little infant, who, mysterious to relate, sustnained such serious injury that it was found necessary to place it under the treatment of Dr. Blyth. Surely the police authorities should put a stop to the practice of making fires in such close proximity to this bridge, or, indeed, on the side of much-used roads within a stone's throw of the Sorell township, by nocturnal tramps. A more providential escape from broken limbs or death than this untoward event manifests, has not occurred in this part for many a long day.