A shocking accident occurred at Rushden on Monday, and we regret to say that it had a fatal termination at an early hour this morning. Mr. W. Smith, of Duck-street, was cycling down Fitzwilliam-street, when he lost control of his machine and came down the hill at a terrific speed.  He was quite unable to negotiate the right-angled turn at the bottom of the hill and was consequently hurled with great force against the window and wall of Mr. Hollis’s shop.  His head struck the corner of the wall with

A Sickening Thud

and his shoulder was forced through the window.

  Mr. Herbert Paragreen, son of Councillor J. Paragreen, of Duck-street, and others rendered first aid, and the unfortunate man was removed to his home, which is close at hand.  Dr. Baker was called in and found that Mr. Smith had sustained very serious injuries.  He had a large wound on the top of the head and was suffering from concussion of the brain, besides which there were injuries to the shoulder and the body.

  The sufferer recovered consciousness on Tuesday, but though hopes were entertained that he would recover he got worse yesterday and death occurred at 2 o’clock this morning.

A Dangerous Hill

  The dangerous nature of the hill and the turning at the bottom is shown by the large number of accidents which have taken place there and it high time steps were taken to obviate future occurrences of the kind.  In the present instance Mr. Smith would in all probability have cleared the wall if he had had another two yards in which to turn.  It is said that he was well aware of the danger, but kept on his machine for a yard or two at the top of the hill to avoid a motor-car at the turn into Moor-road and was afterwards unable to alight.

  The circumstances attending the fatality have been reported to the Coroner and an inquest is being held this evening.

7^th August 1908

Rushden Cycling Fatality - Inquest and Verdict

Jury’s Recommendation to the Urban Council

  The sad cycling fatality at Rushden, reported in last week’s Rushden Echo, formed the subject of an inquiry by Mr. Cairns Parker, deputy coroner, at the Rose and Crown, Rushden, on Friday evening. Mr. H.H. Hobbs was chosen foreman of the jury.

  Francis Henry Smith, hairdresser, Duck-street, identified the body as that of his father, Wm. John Smith. Witness saw deceased go out on Monday at dinner time with his cycle and did not see him again till he saw him lying in the yard injured.  Deceased was then conscious and asked witness to lift him up. Next day deceased said he thought he had caught a chill while fishing. Witness reminded him that there had been an accident. Deceased then recollected that he made an effort to cycle past a motor at the top of Fitzwilliam Hill and then intended to get off the machine. Half way down the hill deceased said he lost control of his bicycle and did not remember what happened afterwards.  Deceased had always walked down the hill before.  The bicycle deceased was riding was a fixed wheel machine

With No Brake

Deceased had ridden a bicycle for about 20 years.  He had at one time a brake on the machine, but had not had one for three or four years.  Deceased was a healthy man and had never had any fits.

  George Wingrove, mechanic, 52 Wellingborough-road, said that on Monday, at about five minutes past six, he was walking up Fitzwilliam-street and saw the deceased riding down the hill at a speed of about nine miles an hour on a bicycle.  Deceased was apparently trying to stop the machine, but his pace increased right to the bottom of the hill.  Deceased appeared to keep control of his machine and turned sharply to the right at the bottom of the hill.  If deceased had had a few yards more in which to turn, witness thought he would have got safely round.  As it was witness recognised that an accident must happen and hastened after deceased.  Deceased struck the bakehouse wall and the window at the bottom of the hill but did not fall off the machine.  Witness assisted to remove the deceased into the yard at his home, which was close at hand.  Deceased spoke after he was taken home, but did not say he lost control of the bicycle.  He did say that he

a little in consequence of passing a motor at the top of the hill, or else he would have got off against Mr. Horrell’s factory.

  Dr. Baker said he was called to see deceased on Monday evening at about ten minutes past six and found him lying in the back yard of his house.  He was conscious but very dazed.  There was a large scalp wound on the left side of his head and a large flap of the scalp was torn off.  There were indications of paralysis through concussion of the brain and spine.  The wound on the head was sewn up and deceased was put to bed.  Witness attended him till his death, which took place at 2 o’clock that (Friday) morning as a result of the injuries.  Deceased gave him a similar account of the accident to that mentioned by the first witness.

  The Coroner, in summing up, said it appeared likely that if deceased had had a brake on his machine the accident would not have happened.  At the same time a man of deceased’s age would naturally ride carefully and they had in evidence that it was his custom always to walk down the hill.

Jury’s Recommendation

  The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” and asked the Coroner to call the attention of the Rushden Urban Council to the dangerous nature of the hill, with a view to seeing whether something could not be done to render the approach at the bottom of the hill safer. They thought it would also be well if a notice-board warning riders was erected at the top of the hill.

  Mr. Willmott, one of the jurors, said he had seen many accidents happen on the hill and thought the place was a regular death- trap.

  The Coroner said he would convey the jury’s wishes to the Urban Council.