WYMINGTON - FATAL ACCIDENT — Mr. J. P. Piper, deputy-coroner, has held an inquest at the New Inn, Wymington, on the body of Thomas Partridge, aged 26, who was knocked down and killed on the Railway, at Wymington. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

PODDINGTON - ACCIDENT—On Thursday, Jan. 31st, a young man named Edward Wykes, of Poddington, had been engaged carting on the vicarage farm, and he took the horse in the stable to take the harness off. When, however, he caught hold of the saddle and brichen to take it off, the animal commenced kicking, and kicked the young man on the right knee. He was at once conveyed home, where he lies in a serious condition.

Irchester - FATAL ACCIDENT—Caleb Ward, a young man is this village, in the service of the Midland Railway Company, was accidentally killed while shunting at St. Pancras Station last Tuesday night, only about two hours after the accident. Deceased was greatly respected.

Irchester - ACCIDENT—Early on Saturday morning last, Joseph Wilson, railway labourer, was knocked down by a coal-train while proceeding to his work near Irchester. Fortunately he was thrown clear of the rails, but he sustained a fracture of the shoulder which necessitated his removal to the Infirmary.

ACCIDENT—On Saturday last a very serious accident happened to Mr. E. Parsons's horse and waggon. The man had been out on business as usual to the neighbouring places, and on returning home stopped against his own door to speak to his wife, when the horse started off and galloped down the street with all speed, and turning short into the gateway broke the waggon, and so hurt itself that it was obliged to be killed. It is a marvellous thing that no children were hurt, as there were many about the street at the time.

WOLLASTON - ACCIDENT—On Thursday week, as Mr. T. Gillett, farmer, of this village, was riding round his farm on a young horse the animal became very restive, and he was thrown off on the road, sustaining a dislocation of his left shoulder. Dr. J. Orr was at once sent for and set the joint, which is now doing well.

PODDINGTON - MACHINE ACCIDENT—John Pettit, while working at a threshing machine, on Tuesday, got his hand drawn in, and the member was so crushed that on his removal to the Northampton Infirmary amputation was found to be necessary.

RAUNDS - ACCIDENT—Mr. R. Woodruff, baker, met with an accident on Saturday, while driving in his trap. The horse fell down and pitched him head foremost. Fortunately both horse and driver escaped with but slight injuries.

ACCIDENTS IN THE HARVEST FIELD—On Thursday night, the 14th inst., a young man of the name of Sharp, working for Mr. Turnell, got his ankle sprained and was otherwise hurt, the cart shaft breaking and letting the corn fall upon him.—On Saturday night, the 19th inst., a lad of the name of Bond, in the employ of Mr. Austin, in some mysterious way, got his thigh broken while driving the waggon. Mr. Austin lost no time in sending for the surgeon, and he is progressing favourably.

Serious Gun Accident at Higham Ferrers
On Thursday evening two lads named Bettles and Horsford were engaged in the washhouses belonging to Mr E B Randall's farm premises, when Horsford took a gun out of the copper where it had been put by the foreman (Mr Denton). Bettles told him not to meddle with it, but he pointed it at the window, not knowing it was loaded, and pulled the trigger. The gun went off and shot the milkman, Samuel Reed, who was passing at the time. The charge took effect in Reed's forehead. He was at once taken to the surgery of Mr J Crew, where his wounds were attended to, and it is hoped the injury, although serious, will not prove fatal.

Friday morning
The man Reed who was shot last evening has passed a very comfortable night, and is better this morning than could have been expected. The doctor says there are about 20 shot holes in his head, but it is hoped the case is not so bad as was expected.

HIGHAM FERRERS - A Trap Upset — An accident occurred on Saturday last to Mr. C. Groome and a young man named Edwards, whilst they were occupied in breaking-in a young pony. When they had got to Gipsy Bridge, between Higham and Stanwick, the trap upset, owing to the harness breaking. Both the occupants were thrown out behind, Edwards escaping unhurt, but Mr. Groome was rather severely bruised and shaken.

Fatal Trap Accident at Wollaston
This morning, at about two o'clock, a man named Fayers, traveller for Mr. Dunmore, 50, Bridge Street, Northampton, was found lying dead in a ditch by the roadside between Wollaston and Doddington, with a pony and trap on top of him. He was taken to the Marquis of Granby Inn, Wollaston, where the inquest will be held. Further particulars will appear in our next issue.

Accident to a Porter-John Knight, a porter at Higham Ferrers Station, was admitted to the Northampton Infirmary late on Wednesday night, suffering from a sprained ankle, owing to his falling from a railway carriage when putting the lights on.

Wollaston - ACCIDENT—On Thursday afternoon an accident happened to a little boy named Fred Loakes, about 6 or 7 years old. He and another little boy named Willie Smart, cousins, were playing about the brook, against the place where the water had been stopped for the purpose of washing sheep when somehow or other he fell in. The water was very deep, and Loakes was in great danger of being drowned, as there was no one in sight. But Smart, the other boy, who is only a year or so older, ran and fetched a long pole, which lay at a little distance, and with this managed to keep the boy's head above water, and eventually got him out on the bank, where he lay till Smart ran up to the village for help. Great praise is due the young Will Smart, for if he had done, as children of his age would have done, ran screaming up to the village for help, Loakes would in all probability have been drowned.

ACCIDENT—On Saturday evening last as a lad seven years old, named Thomas Norman, was playing near Mr. Jole's shop, a ladder fell on him, breaking his thigh. He was at once conveyed to the Northampton Infirmary, and his injuries attended to.

ACCIDENT—On Monday a young lad named Ernest Gaunt, son of Mr. G. Gaunt, was playing at "See-saw" with a number of other boys, and when on the hoisted end of the swing fell off and broke his arm between the wrist and elbow. The arm was at once set and is going on well.

ACCIDENT—A serious accident happened to a young man named Frank Spicer on Friday last. Spicer, who is a carpenter by trade, was driving home from Raunds station, when the horse took fright and bolted. He then sprang out on one side, when the wheel of the trap came into violent contact with his left leg, severely fracturing both bones half-way between the knee and the ankle. Young Spicer was carried home and Dr. McKenzie was called in and the fracture immediately set.

BOZEAT - SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN THE HARVEST FIELD—A sad accident happened on Monday afternoon last, on the farm of Mr. T. Goff, Harrold Park. Several men were cutting corn with a reaping machine when the chain attaching the horses to the reaper broke, causing the horses to bolt. A man named James Bayes, of Bozeat, who was driving the horses, was thrown off the machine, the wheel passing over him. He was badly cut on his neck and thigh, and his ribs, legs, and arms were badly bruised. Dr. Orr's assistant is attending him. He is going on as well as can be expected, considering the nature of the accident. Fortunately he fell on the near side of the machine, for had he fell on the off side he must have been cut to pieces.

TRAP ACCIDENT—On Saturday evening, Mr. C. Jolley (of the firm of Messrs. Johnson, Clark and Co.), was driving from the station to Higham, having just returned from his holidays at Rhyl. The horse and cart he was driving came in contact with another, and Mr. Jolley was thrown out. He was at once taken home, and fortunately it was found no bones were broken, although he was very much shaken.

A CHILD IN FLAMES—On Friday evening last a little girl belonging to an agricultural labourer, named Geo. Tomlin, had a narrow escape from being burnt to death. It appears that the mother of the child had been out in the harvest field, and got home about dusk. After getting into the house she lit a candle, set it on the table, and went out for something, leaving the children in the house. The mother had scarcely got into a neighbour's house when one of them, a little girl five years of age, ran out of the house all in flames. It seems she had taken the candle off the table, and set it down on the floor in the pantry to look for something, when her clothes caught fire. A neighbour happened to see the child run out of the house all on fire, and immediately ran to it, followed by the mother and some other of the neighbours. The flaming pinafore and dress were ripped off and the fire was speedily extinguished. The mother's hands were much burnt in battling with the fire, but by her prompt action and that of her neighbours the little one was rescued without being burnt in any way whatever to the great joy of all present.

ACCIDENT—In coming home from Thrapston one day last week, Mr. W. Young and Mr. Perkins met with an accident, by which they narrowly escaped a watery grave. It seems that before starting for home they felt thirsty and imbibed somewhat too freely of some "extra stout." Feeling elated they took it into their heads to ride home, but here they were at first in a dilemma as they had only one horse, but they got out of the difficulty by deciding to ride one behind the other. Starting off they came jogging along to where the river is divided from the high-road only by an embankment. When approaching Denford Ford, they seem to have plied the whip rather freely. Whether the horse, which like Balaam's ass had carried his masters well up to then, did not like this treatment and felt determined to resent it, deponent sayeth not, but suffice it to say that on feeling the whip again the spirited steed sprang up a low part of the embankment and began capering, and during the prancing our jockeys were unable to maintain their equilibrium and both either fell, or were precipitated into the river. Fortunately after some struggling, plunging, gurgling, and blowing, both escaped with no worse consequence than a good soaking. The poor steed, it is said, stood and neighed with, delight as he witnessed the scene.

ACCIDENT—On Saturday night last, just after 10 o'clock, a sad accident happened to a Bozeat man named James Partridge. As Mr. Summerlin, carrier, was returning from Northampton with Partridge who had been to Grendon to meet him with another horse, they passed through Easton Park. Perceiving a trap coming towards them, and the road being very narrow, and the night dark, Partridge thought it would be safer to lead the horses while the vehicles passed. Whilst attempting to get off the moving van, the fore-wheel caught his foot, causing him to fall. His foot and leg were run over, and his leg broken just above the ankle. Fortunately Mr. S. Alebone, of Easton, was passing with a party of Bozeat people in his wagonette, in which the unfortunate man was taken to Northampton Infirmary, where the fracture was set. He is now progressing favourably.

RINGSTEAD - ACCIDENT—During the feast an aerial railway on which the person hangs by a wooden contrivance suspended to a wire and slides rapidly through the air—was one of the attractions. Whilst a woman was amusing herself on it she fell and broke her arm. Under Dr. Mackenzie's care, however, she is going on well.

WOLLASTON - ACCIDENT IN THE PITS—Joseph Frost, an ironstone labourer, of Wollaston, met with a severe accident on Tuesday morning. He was working at the Irchester pit, when a mass of earth fell upon him. His leg was broken, and five of his ribs fractured. He was conveyed to the Northampton Infirmary.

Higham Ferrers - ACCIDENT—On Saturday last a man named Fred Payne, in the employ of Mr. A. Groome, was engaged in oiling the engine while it was in motion, when his foot slipped and went under the crank, smashing his big toe to a pulp. Mr. A. C. Groome rendered first aid by cutting the boot and stocking off, and doing what could be done to stop the bleeding until the arrival of Mr. Parkin, assistant to Dr. Crew, who at once pronounced it a serious case, and on arrival of Dr. Crew, Payne was taken to his brother’s residence in Corporation-row, where the toe was amputated. We hear the patient is doing well.

Higham Ferrers - Accidents — On Saturday last, as two young men from Woodford were skating on the river near Higham Ferrers, the ice broke and let one of them in. Fortunately assistance was at hand, and he was rescued from what must have been certain death had no one been near. — On Sunday morning, Mrs. Clayton, wife of Mr. J. Clayton was cutting some bacon for breakfast, using a razor to cut it. The razor slipped, and inflicted very serious injuries to her hands. Mr. Parkin was promptly in attendance and dressed the wound, and favourable progress is being made. — On Monday afternoon a young man named C. Kilsby, in the employ of Mr. C. Parker, as sewer, was staring a gas engine by pushing the fly-wheel, when it started suddenly and caught Kilsby by the head, inflicting serious injuries. A conveyance was procured, and he was taken home and attended to by Drs. Crew and Parkin.

Raunds - Accident — A man named J. Driver had a narrow escape last week. A bull in a maddened state of excitement was being driven down the street followed by numbers of people, and when at the bottom of the village ran at Driver who was in the road. Driver held up a rake and so diverted a direct attack on himself. The force of the bull’s attack on the rake however was such as to knock Driver head over heels. Fortunately though bruised a little he was not seriously hurt.

Higham Ferrers - Accident — On Thursday, about noon, an old man aged 73, named William Miller, was at work cleaning up the warehouse just vacated by Mr. G. Shelton, and was at the door on the first floor looking out, holding on to a piece of wood. This gave way, and let the old man pitch out, and he fell some 10 feet. Mr. Parkins, assistant to Dr. Crew, was soon on the spot, and in a very few minutes, a company of the Ambulance Class with the stretcher took the poor man home. Among those who rendered aid were: Messrs. C. H. Simpson, J. Partridge, T. Coleman, W. Wheatley, and J. B. Martin. The patient is now lying in a very precarious state.

Railway Accident at Irchester
Fred Smith, aged 36, a signalman at Irchester Station, has met with a remarkable accident, and though he is still alive and likely to recover, the injuries would probably be fatal in 999 cases out of 1,000. Smith was, on the evening of the 17th inst., proceeding along the line with his lamp, and it is supposed that in getting out of the way of a luggage train on the down line he stepped into the up track, not noticing, and of course not hearing, the express coming along behind him. The stoker of the express, seeing a lamp fly through the air, concluded that a man had been run into, and the train was pulled up at Sharnbrook. A search party at once set out, and in about an hour Smith was found lying by the side of the line groaning and totally unconscious. It was seen he had a nasty wound on the back of his head, which was bound up, and on examining the ground, a well-marked blood-stained dint was found in a sleeper, where his head had, without doubt, struck. The sufferer was conveyed with all despatch to Bedford Infirmary, where, besides a huge bruise on his side where the buffer had struck him, the house surgeon was alarmed to find the back of the skull broken, there being a large wound four inches long, through which brain matter was protruding. The medical staff was summoned, and an operation performed. It was found that the large vein of the skull and one of the brain arteries were injured, and five pieces of bone were removed, one of them having penetrated the brain half an inch. The five pieces of bone, when placed together, cover a space of about two inches square, a hole of which size the poor fellow has in his skull. When it has scabbed over it will have to be protected by some artificial appliance. Directly the bone was removed from the brain the man recovered consciousness, and has been going on so remarkably well since that every hope is entertained of his recovery. The doctors at the infirmary say this is the most remarkable case they have had to deal with.

Serious Gun Accident at Chelveston
On Monday evening, John Britchford, of Chelveston, went out with a gun, and seeing some people he tried to hide it. He ran to a drain under a gateway, and stooping down to put his gun under, butt-end first, it went off, the charge passing through his right hand and his right knee. The party he had before seen, and who were land surveying, consisting of Mr. Bletsoe (Thrapston), Mr. Grey, and their men, who, observing something amiss, sent a man, Charles Britten, to see what it was. On Britten reaching the spot, Britchford said “I’m shot myself.” Britten called for assistance, and the wounded man was conveyed home. Dr. Crew and Dr. Owen attended and amputated the remains of the wounded hand, and otherwise attended to his injuries. He lies in a very precarious state.

STANWICK - ACCIDENT—A day or two ago as Mr. F. Betts, baker, of this village, was driving his cart down the hill at the top end of Hargrave, the horse suddenly stumbled and fell, and Mr. Betts was pitched out head foremost, falling with great force on his face on the hard road. Though bleeding profusely he was able to drive home to Stanwick. Dr. Mackenzie, of Raunds, was sent for and Betts was found to have been severely cut and bruised all along the forehead and left temple, his lips split, and his nose cut and bruised all over. Betts has also been suffering from a shock to the system ever since, though now slowly recovering.

ACCIDENT—During the gale on Thursday morning last a hovel in the occupation of Mr. W. Lewis, of the White Horse Inn, was blow down. Three valuable heifers were sheltering under it, one of which was killed instantly, and another seriously injured.

HIGHAM FERRERS - ACCIDENT—On Monday last about 11 a.m. a young man in the employ of Mr. Knight, butcher, of Rushden, was driving through Higham Ferrers when the cart in which he was seated came into collision with a railway dray, with the result that the cart was thrown over, and the young man's head badly cut. He was able to drive home to Rushden, where his injuries were attended to.

An Accident happened on Tuesday to Mr G Parker, shoe agent, Bozeat, when driving down Station-road, Rushden, with a load of work. The reins broke, the horse fell, and the driver was pitched to the ground, seriously injuring his face and forehead.

Narrow Escape From Drowning - A miraculously narrow escape from drowning took place at Ringstead on Tuesday about one o’clock. A boy, four years old, the son of Mr. Wilford, the stationmaster, fell into a dyke near the station, where the water was from two feet to four feet deep. The child had been lying in the water some time before being found, and was then dragged out by his father insensible. The child was soon seen to by First Officer Perry and Private H. Adams and Nurse Wilson, of the Ambulance Brigade, and Mr. Muirhead, of the Mill, who at once used artificial respiration, the child gradually showing signs of life, and in half an hour respiration was restored. Dr. Mackenzie, of Raunds, was soon in attendance, and gave it as his opinion that the child’s life was certainly saved by the strenuous efforts of the Ambulance Brigade and assistants. The child is now doing well.

Wymington - Accident—Whilst the six year old daughter of Mr J Winsor, builder, was watching some cyclists on Wednesday last, she came into collision with a Bozeat cyclist named Partridge, who was going in the direction of Rushden. She was knocked down and her right foot entangled in the back wheel. The girl was attended by Dr Owen’s assistant and is now speedily recovering. The cyclist and his machine escaped injury.

Bozeat Cyclist’s Serious Accident - Collision with Irchester Ringers
An accident occurred near the bridge at Strixton on Saturday night to Fred Wallis, eldest son of Mr W Wallis, of Bozeat. He was cycling home from Wollaston when he came into collision with a waggonette containing a party of bell-ringers from Irchester.

Wallis was somewhat seriously injured, and after being attended to by Private Payne, he was conveyed in the waggonette, semi-conscious, to the Nag’s Head, Wollaston, where he was also attended to by Sergt J A Drage until the arrival of Dr Baxter, who found it necessary to insert several stitches at the back of the head.

The sufferer was afterwards conveyed to Bozeat by P.C. Brumby and Private Payne, of the Irchester Ambulance Corps.

Irchester - Accident - On Saturday afternoon, as a horse and cart, loaded with corn, were proceeding along High-street the wheels became locked with those of a mineral water cart standing outside a beerhouse. The lad in charge of the load of corn did not notice this until he was surrounded by a quantity of bottles and mineral water, the “spruce " cart being turned on to its side, and the contents scattered on to the road. One of the shafts of over-turned cart was broken.

WOLLASTON ACCIDENTS—On Monday Mr. F. Cooper, builder, whilst taking measurements at Mr. Austin's factory, caught his head against a large belt and was badly hurt. Dr. Baxter found it necessary to insert several stitches.
CRUSHED HAND—On Tuesday Ernest Kilsby had his hand crushed in a moulder at Messrs. Nutt and Rice's factory.

Rushden Echo, 1st January 1915, transcribed by Kay Collins

An Unfortunate Accident occurred on Sunday evening near Mr R Marriott’s house at Rushden, to an aged widow, Mrs Britten, of Chelveston, who for the past twelve months has been residing with her sister Mrs Harris, of Hayway. Mrs Britten had attended service at St peter’s Church and was on her way home, and when near Mr Marriott’s, while crossing the road, she slipped and fell, sustaining injury to the tendons of her right leg. She was at once conveyed to her sister’s by Mr R Chettle, and others who witnessed the accident, and Dr Baker was sent for and came at once. Mrs Britten, by reason of her advanced age is naturally suffering severely from the shock but is progressing as favourably as can be expected.

Painful Accident at Higham Ferrers
Soldier’s Son Meets with a Mishap - Removed to the Hospital
A painful sensation was caused in Higham Ferrers on Monday morning, when it became known that an eleven-year old lad named George Britchford, of 102 High Street, Higham Ferrers, and whose father is fighting in Salonica, had met with a serious accident.

It appears that the unfortunate lad, who is one of Mr Saxby’s newsboys, had been given a ride by the driver of the two-horse water tank belonging to the Rushden and Higham Ferrers Gas Company. When opposite his house, master Britchford instead of waiting for the vehicle to stop, made an attempt to jump off, and owing to his newspaper bag catching on the shafts he fell beneath the vehicle, the wheel passing over his legs. Luckily the tank had not been filled, otherwise the increased weight would have occasioned much worse injuries than he sustained. Councillor John Pack, who lives opposite the poor little chap’s house picked him up and carried him home, but found that Mrs Britchford was out. Arriving shortly afterwards however she was naturally greatly upset over her little son’s injuries.

Dr Parkin and Dr Denys Crew were sent for, and after an examination they advised the removal of the little sufferer to the County Hospital. It was found that he had sustained a severe gash in the left leg, his kneecap was dislocated, and his right thigh and knee were badly bruised. Fortunately there were no fractures. An operation was performed on Britchford’s arrival at the hospital, and inquiries made on Wednesday elicited the news that he is progressing as satisfactorily as can be expected.