Obituaries Australia

We regret to have to record the occurrence of a shocking accident on Saturday afternoon a short distance past the Traveller's Rest on the Longford Road, whereby a much-respected lady, Mrs Thomas William Archer, of Woolmers Cottage, Longford, lost her life. Mrs Archer, accompanied by her son and daughter, Thomas Charles Archer, Esq., of Woolmers, and Miss Archer, had come to town the previous day for the purpose of attending a private subscription ball at the Town Hall, and had left the Launceston Hotel about four o'clock in the afternoon in a carriage and pair on the return journey, Mr William Landale also being with them. The journey was accomplished safely till getting to a nasty hill a short distance the other side of the Traveller's Rest. Just as they were about descending the hill one of the horses stumbled, and immediately recovered itself, but in doing so the pole snapped, and the horses being goaded by the broken pole became restive. Mr. Landale jumped out of the carriage to secure the horses' heads, but in running up he stumbled over a heap of stones and fell, and before he could recover himself the horses had dashed into a gallop. Mrs Archer became terrified and jumped out of the carriage, but instead of alighting on her feet fell heavily on the hard metal road, bruising her breast and side fearfully, and sustaining severe internal injuries, besides having her face dreadfully lacerated. Mr Landale had managed to get up at the back of the carriage in order to attempt to get Miss Archer out, and requested her to come near to him that he might lift her out, but she, mistaking what he said, jumped out at the side of the carriage, and was very much injured by the fall. The horses now continued their mad career down the hill at a terrific pace, Mr Archer remaining on the box, and with marvellous presence of mind and skill, kept them on the crown of the road, though they were almost entirely free from the carriage. The carriage itself had been swaying from side to side, and sometimes was turned half round, and dragged cross-wise down the hill. At the foot of the hill the vehicle was turned completely over, Mr Archer being thrown with force a few feet from a large log lying at the side of the road; still he stuck to the reins, and the horses immediately stopped. Mr Landale and Miss Archer (though the latter was scarcely able to move) were now attending to poor Mrs Archer, who was suffering intense agony. She was quite sensible, and expressed a wish that she might not be moved, as she knew she could not live. Mr Landale inmediately galloped off to town for medical assistance, and a message was sent to Dr Appleyard, of Longford, by a cart which passed by the scene of the accident shortly after the melancholy occurrence. Mrs Archer was taken to the farmhouse of Mrs Burnett close by, and Dr Maddox and Dr Appleyard were upon the spot within the shortest possible time, arriving almost simultaneously, and Mr R. S. Gleadow arrived very soon after with a carriage, bed, and other such requisites for the removal of a sufferer with comfort. From a cursory examination it was evident to the medical gentlemen that recovery was hopeless, though both remained till the lady's death which occurred shortly after. On Sunday the body was removed to Woolmers, and yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock an inquest was held at Woolmers before Charles Arthur, Esq., Coroner, and a jury of seven.

Miss Archer is very much hurt, and the shock to her system intense. Mr Archer escaped, comparatively speaking unhurt, having sustained a few bruises and sprains about the body and hand.

The broken carriage was brought into Mr Wadham's coach manufactory yesterday, and the manner in which it is shattered tells at once how great the concussion must have been. The sad accident is attributable solely to the pole breaking, and the heartrending nature of the circumstances of the case is intensified by the fact that the accident was brought about owing to the carelessness of a workman, or the want of honesty of the manufacturer of the carriage as at the point at which the pole broke there was a large knot, and not more than an inch or so of sound wood. Strange to say this imperfect pole had lasted a number of years, but possibly, this was the first occasion on which any such strain had been put upon it. It is but fair to state that the carriage was not made here, but imported from England.

Since the foregoing was written a gentleman who examined the broken pole very carefully informs us that there was no knot, though the grain of the wood was curled at the spot, and was much whiter than the adjacent wood.