ALARMING ACCIDENT

December 1872 Doctor Morris’ groom was stepping in to the gig near the stables in Bath Lane in High Street, when the horse suddenly started forward, and plunged in to the centre of the river Welland which flows past the end of the lane, and at present times, is very deep and full. The horse swam a considerable distance down the river, going from the end of the lane, as far as Captain Selby’s residence, where he was rescued from this perilous position. The current had carried him round a barge moored there, and swam down the river with nothing showing, just his head and the top of the gig. The horse sustained no injury and the only damage to the vehicle was a broken back spring. This was something wonderful when you consider the distance travelled.