PETERSFIELD.
SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Thursday, a distressing accident happened to an industrious married man of the name of James Smith, for many years in the service of our respected townsman, Mr. Small. It appears that the unfortunate man had been occupied throughout the day with a man, as helper, of the name of John Baker, carting coals from the Railway Station, to the new residence of his master at Ravenshill, a short distance from the town. Having completed the removal the coals, he proceeded about five o’clock in the afternoon to the drapery establishment in the Square, for the purpose of removing a lot of empties, on return, the goods station at the railway; on reaching the same, he being in the cart, was in the act of unloading, when unfortunately the man Baker had left the horse, which was a spirited one. Just at the the 5‧38 train ran up to the station, when the horse became startled, and suddenly bolted off, and Smith in endeavouring to jump from the cart to stop the affrighted anima! got one of his legs entangled in the reins, and fell with great force to the ground, and the wheel passed over his leg. The poor fellow was at once placed upon a hurdle and carried to his home in the College-street, where Mr. Cross, and his assistant, Mr. Holt, were directly in attendance, and reduced the fracture, being both bones of the leg above the ancle. It is gratifying to state that although otherwise much hurt he is progressing favourably under the attention and skill of the above-named gentlemen.