A CARELESS COACHMAN. i6i 



The same writer describes a serious accident which 

 happened In April, 1826, to the Dorking coach. "This 

 coach," he says, "left the 'Elephant and Castle' at 

 nine o'clock, full inside and out, and arrived safe at 

 Ewell, where the driver and proprietor, Joseph 

 Walker, alighted for the purpose of getting a parcel 

 from the back part of the coach and gave the reins to 

 a boy who sat on the box. While he was delivering 

 the parcel to a person who stood near the after wheel 

 of the coach, the boy cracked the whip, and the horses 

 set off at full speed. Several attempts were made to 

 stop them, but In vain ; they passed Ewell church, and 

 tore away about twelve yards of strong paling, when, 

 the wheels mounting a small eminence, the coach was 

 overturned, and the whole of the passengers were 

 thrown from the roof. Some of them were In a state 

 of Insensibility, showing no symptoms of life. A 

 woman who was thrown upon some spikes, which 

 entered her breast and neck, was dreadfully mutilated, 

 none of her features being distinguishable ; she lin- 

 gered until the following day, when she expired in the 

 greatest agony." 



The same writer in speaking of the Oxford coach 

 says : " Never shall I forget an adventure that 

 happened to me on the box of the far-famed ' Tantivy.' 

 We had just entered the ' University' from Woodstock, 

 w^hen suddenly the horses started off at an awful 

 pace. What made matters worse was that we saw 

 at a distance some men employed In removing a large 

 tree that had fallen during the storm of the previous 

 night across the road, near St. John's College. The 

 coachman shook his head, looking very nervous, while 

 the guard, a most powerful man, stood up to be pre- 

 pared for any emergency. On we went, the coachman 



M 



