Northampton Mercury Saturday February 17^th 1877, transcribed by Susan Manton

Accident—On Saturday evening last, as a party were returning home from hearing the Bishop at Rushden Church, when half way between Rushden and Higham Ferrers, the backing broke and let the cart down, breaking the shafts and precipitating the passengers with much force to the ground. We are informed Mrs. Templeman, who had not been in the cart many minutes, received rather serious injuries, so much so that she has been confined to her bed since. Britten, the driver, received a very severe shaking, and injury to the leg and side. There were several persons in the cart which belonged to Mr. Britten, of Chelveston but, with the above exceptions no serious injury was received.

ACCIDENT— On Tuesday, a lad, named York, whilst engaged loading corn, was, unfortunately, knocked down and run over by a passing conveyance. The injuries the lad received were so serious that he had to be removed to the Infirmary.

Irchester—SERIOUS ACCIDENT—On Tuesday, Mr. John Barnes, of this village, was driving home from Rushden, having a piano in his cart, when, by some means or the other, he was thrown out of the vehicle, and so seriously injured that his life was despaired of.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT—On Good Friday a serious accident occurred at the Gas Works, by which two men named J. Ekins, of Rushden, and J. Saxby, of the Shorncliffe Iron-works, were severely burnt. A new holder is in the course of erection, and nearly completed, and the men were working at it with the intention of finishing it on Friday, when a valve was found to be slightly open, thereby admitting a small quantity of gas into the holder. As soon as this was known the valve was closed, and the men, who thought there was not sufficient gas in the holder to prevent them from going on with their labours, entered the holder and resumed work. After a short time it was found necessary to have a red-hot rivet put through a hole in the roof, where it was to be fastened. This immediately caused an explosion, and the result was that Saxby and Ekins who were inside at the time, were severely burnt about the hands and face, so much so that it was thought dangerous to move them. Saxby lies in a precarious condition.

Note: the annual gas report 1879 states the men were Ekins & Loseley

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE—On Tuesday an old man named Smith Wilmer attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat. He has been ill for years, and has suffered from great depression of spirits. Considering the age of the sufferer the wound inflicted is of a serious character, but hopes are entertained that the rash act he has committed will not have a fatal termination. At present the would-be suicide is in a precarious condition, but he has the best medical treatment, and is carefully nursed.

RUSHDEN—Last Sunday, a bundle containing female wearing apparel was found in a pond in this village, under circumstances which gave rise to suspicion. The pond was emptied by the police, but nothing which could throw additional light on the subject was discovered.
[Not quite an accident!]

ACCIDENT—On Saturday last as one of the Midland trollies was returning from Higham to Irchester station with a heavy load and two horses, the thiller horse commenced kicking and displacing the breeching, became unmanageable. The driver was endeavouring to let off the trolley when the horse made a swerve and he lost his balance and fell, both wheels and the trolley passing over his leg, very much injuring the ankle and thigh. He was conveyed to the surgery of Mr. Crew, where his injuries were attended to by Mr. Croon, Mr. Crew's assistant, but the leg was so much swollen that it could not be ascertained what was the extent of the injuries. We have since heard, however, that no bones have been broken (although there was nearly three ton weight on the trolley), and that Percival, the man injured, is going on as well as could be expected.

RUSHDEN—Dilapidated Husbandry—On Sunday night, last, owing to the dilapidated state of a well-cover on the farm premises occupied by Mr. Thomas Laughton, at Rushden, a horse suddenly found itself in anything but a loose box, committing a sort of involuntary suicide. It is only fair to Mr. Laughton to add that he has only recently entered into occupation of the farm, and therefore cannot be held to blame for the dilapidated state of the well, although unfortunately he has to bear the loss.

Accident-On Wednesday evening Mr. Ebenezer Cox, of the New Inn, Rushden, and his brother of the Strode-road, in this town, were riding in a trap, when the horse bolted and in turning the corner of Winstanley-road, near Mr. Davidson’s shop, an upset occurred, resulting in both men being thrown out with considerable violence. We regret to state that Mr. E. Cox was rather seriously injured.

ACCIDENT—In consequence or the very dangerous state of the footpath near the residence of Mr. T. Sanders, between Higham Ferrers and Rushden, the Rushden postman, J. Seckington, fell on Saturday evening last and very seriously injured his knee.

ACCIDENT—On Monday last Mr. Andrew Groome, accompanied by his wife and child, was driving from Rushden to Northampton and was within three miles of his destination when the horse became unmanageable, and ultimately threw out the occupants of the vehicle. Fortunately, however, neither of them was hurt, save Mr. Groome receiving a slight injury to his ankle.

ACCIDENT—On Saturday last a young man named George Farey, son of Mr. Joseph Farey, went out with a party of others to gather nuts, and while getting over a stile slipped and fractured his knee. He was conveyed home on the following morning, and is progressing favourably.

PODINGTON—ACCIDENTS—On Friday last a lad named Joseph Bodington was engaged driving a dung cart on the Vicarage Farm, when passing through a gateway with a load the wheel caught the lad and knocked him down, and the wheel of the cart passed over his foot very badly crushing it. He was at once conveyed home where he is progressing, but very slowly. On Sunday afternoon a young gentleman from Rushden was passing through Hinwick on a bicycle when, coming down the hill by the Horseford, it caught against a stone and he was pitched off. He was picked up insensible by some friends and taken to the Wheat Sheaf Inn, where he was well cared for by the landlady, while his friends proceeded to Rushden to provide a conveyance to get him home. At 3.30 a horse and trap arrived. The poor fellow had by that time much revived, but he was dreadfully shaken and unable to set his foot to the ground.

ACCIDENT—On Thursday, the 3rd inst., as Mrs. R. Brightwell, aged 80 years, was walking across her house she caught her toe in the matting and fell against the drawers and fractured her hip. Mrs. Brightwell is the oldest Wesleyan in Rushden, and many years since, before there was a Wesleyan Chapel in Rushden, used to go to Higham Ferrers to worship. It is somewhat strange that Mrs. Brightwell's mother at the age of 84 years met with a similar accident.

ACCIDENT—On Tuesday a lad named Taylor was playing in the street with other lads, when he fell down and broke his arm.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE—Great excitement was caused during the latter part of last week by the disappearance of a man named Pruden, living on Higham Hill, who went to Wellingborough Market and did not return. On Sunday and Monday parties were dragging the river for his body, it being feared that he was drowned, but on Tuesday he returned and stated that he took train from Wellingborough to Irchester, and was taken on to London, and not having money enough to pay the fare was detained, and hence the delay.

ACCIDENT— On Saturday last some hawkers of tinware met at Rushden, and after spending the day drinking together, a dispute arose and a free fight ensued, in which one of them received such injuries that he could not get back to his tent in the Recreation Ground at Higham Ferrers. Assistance was procured and he was conveyed thither, and medical attendance obtained, when it was found he had injured his knee, and not broken his leg as was feared.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING — On Wednesday evening, as several young men were bathing near Higham stanch, one of them got out of his depth and went down several times. There were several in the water, but none dared to venture to his rescue until a young man named Joseph Byrne, who had been in the water and was on the bank dressing, plunged in, and succeeded in taking him to the bank in an insensible state. The means resorted to to restore animation fortunately proved successful, and he was profuse in his expressions of gratitude to his deliverer.

ACCIDENT—On Saturday evening as a man named J. Nunley was returning from fishing near the wharf, and while walking from the latter place to his residence in the Hay Way, he slipped, and had to be carried home. The unfortunate man broke his leg in an accident some five months before, and it was at first feared that he had sustained a similar injury on this occasion, but on Dr. Crew examining the leg he stated that although injured it was not broken, but that there was a bad sprain of the ankle.

ACCIDENT—On Monday afternoon Thos. Jacques, aged 77 years, was at work digging gravel in Mr. G. Tailby's pits, near Higham Ferrers, when about a barrow full of earth fell from the top (loosened doubtless by the heavy rain on Sunday), a distance of some twenty feet, and struck the old man, who was in a stooping position, across the shoulders, knocking him down and partly covering him. He was got out and taken to Mr. Tailby's and put to bed, but we are pleased to state, on examination by Dr. Bowridge, it was ascertained that no bones were broken or dislocated, and although severely bruised no more serious injury was sustained.

ACCIDENT—On Friday afternoon last a collision took place between the van of Warren, the Rushden carrier, and a brick cart, driven by a lad in the employ of Mr. C. Bayes. One of the shafts of the cart was broken off, and the horse thrown down. No further damage resulted. Both parties claim to have been on the right side.

FALLING INTO A PUDDING—Last week a child belonging to William Darnell, the Orchard, accidentally fell into a pudding. It appears the pudding was just taken from the oven, and placed upon the ground, when a child, of tender age, over-balanced himself and sat down in it, the consequence being that a large superficial burn was inflicted upon the abdomen and thighs. Under the treatment of Dr. Owen the child is now progressing favourably.

ACCIDENT—On Tuesday a little boy, five years old, the son of Mr. G. W. Button, was sliding on some ice near the Board Schools, when he fell, and sustained a severe fracture of the left thigh. He was at once conveyed home, and Dr. Freeman was speedily in attendance, and set the broken limb.

ACCIDENT—An accident of an exceptionally painful nature befell Mrs. Thompson, wife of Mr. James Thompson, of Lewis-terrace, a few days since. According to the best information we can obtain upon the subject, the unfortunate woman was coming up Skinner's-hill on her way home, and on account of the dangerous state of the path, occasioned by the snow and ice, was walking in the middle of the road. It being rather dark and her hearing defective, she did not notice the Co-operative Society's bread cart coming down the hill and before she was aware of it, it was close upon her and knocked her to the ground. The driver called out, and endeavoured to pull up sharp, but was unable to make her hear, and on account of the state of the road and the fact of going down-hill, was unable to come to a standstill until too late. Mrs. Thompson was at once conveyed home, and Dr. Owen having been summoned, he found the jaw very badly fractured. Whether one of the shafts caught the poor woman on the side of the head, or the wheel passed over her face, is not known, and the sufferer can give no account of the occurrence. Dr. Owen is doing his best to alleviate the excruciating pain, and the Samaritan Society are interesting themselves in the case, and we trust that between the two the sufferer may find speedy relief.

ICE ACCIDENTS—Mr. Horace Brawn, while taking part in a "hockey" match on the ice on Monday afternoon last, fell heavily and dislocated his shoulder. He is now progressing towards recovery, and the same may be said of Mr. Woodward, plumber, who has been imprisoned within doors for the last few days by a sprained ankle, sustained while skating.

TRAP ACCIDENT—On Saturday evening last, as Mr. and Mrs. Britten, of Chelveston, accompanied by a young son, were driving into Rushden from Higham Ferrers, the horse shied at something in the road, and becoming unmanageable ran up the bank opposite Rushden Villa, the residence of Mr. Amos Cave, overturning the conveyance, breaking the shafts, and precipitating the three occupants into the road. Fortunately both Mr. and Mrs. Britten escaped with the shaking and a sundry bruise or two; but their son falling upon his head, received an ugly scalp wound, necessitating his immediate conveyance to Dr. Owen's surgery, where he received every attention, and was able to proceed home with his parents.

ACCIDENT—On Monday morning, as Mr. George Perkins was carting some hay with a pony and trap, a truss fell to the ground, and the animal taking fright knocked Mr. Perkins down, the wheel of the vehicle passing over his legs. He was assisted home and fortunately his injuries were not so serious as at first anticipated.

ACCIDENT—On Friday last, Harry, son of Mr. W. Denton, of this village, fell from a tree and broke his arm.

A WEDDING PARTY UPSET—Last week as a couple from Rushden were driving to Wellingborough to be married the vehicle in which they and their friends were riding was upset near the London and North-Western Station, and they were thrown out. They escaped without any severe injuries, the principal misfortune being damage to the wedding dresses. After these little drawbacks had been got over, the party was able to proceed to the office of the Registrar without any further "slip."
Note: Was this perhaps William Knightall & Deborah Wykes? See Stray Marriages before 1900

ACCIDENT—On Wednesday morning, as a painter in the employ of Mr. W. Spencer, was engaged in painting the upstairs window of the premises in High-street in the occupation of Mr. J. Clipson, the ladder upon which he was standing slipped out at foot, precipitating the young fellow to the ground and spraining his ankle badly. The end of the ladder also fell upon the shop door, destroying a large square of plate glass.