Photo of St Marys Presbyterian Church courtesy of Penrith Library

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

ON a Saturday in September 1901 near Cott’s “First & Last” Hotel on Victoria Road at St Marys, five women were more or less seriously injured and a valuable buggy terribly damaged and one of the best horses in the district ruined. It started with a meeting of women belonging to the Rupertswood and St Marys’ Presbyterian churches that was arranged to be held at the residence of Miss Anderson at Colyton. Several of the women from St Marys arranged to attend and Mr George Hope agreed to lend his horse and buggy, with Miss Walker the  eldest daughter of Mr Robert Walker of St Marys undertaking to drive the animal. The ladies were Mrs George Hope, Mrs William James Thompson, Mrs K Campbell, Miss Guild and Miss Walker. The five found room in the buggy with three sitting on the front seat and two at the back, all went well on the journey along the Victoria Road to Colyton, but on the return just at the crest of the hill coming into St Marys the animal quickened his pace and a little later on Miss Walker called out that the horse was running away. Mrs Thompson tried to help pull the reins but before reaching Mr Roberts’ house, Miss Walker was either thrown or jumped out. By this time matters looked extremely serious and Mrs Thompson secured one rein but could not get the other, then Miss Guild either jumped or was thrown out between Mr Roberts’ and Mr Lane’s residences and on nearing Mr Lane’s place the animal took to the footpath on the northern side and crossed Queen street cutting Montague James Bennett’s wedding party in two as some of the vehicles had turned the corner while others remained on Victoria road. “Monty” as he was known was the eldest son of George Thomas Bennett and had just married Janet May Haining the daughter of James Stanley Haining of St Marys and the party had just left St Mary Magdalene church. By this time, the pace was a gallop, and as the vehicle passed between Cott’s hotel and the telegraph post. Those onlookers who saw it realised the occupants would be smashed to pieces. The animal rushed at full speed just past the “Park View” hotel of the late Mrs Corry whose fence projected out some feet onto the footpath. The suddenness of the impact threw the ladies in all directions. The buggy at first turned almost at right angles then clean over onto the roadway. Fortunately, the horse got loose with part of the shaft and ran on still on the footpath until he was brought up near Mr Brown’s shop. A large number of townspeople were quickly on the  scene and all the ladies were unconscious. Mrs Hope soon regained consciousness and although she sustained a fractured rib, a number of bruises and a great shock, she was conveyed to her own residence. Mrs Thompson’s injuries were apparently more severe and she remained unconscious right through the night. The shock and injuries to her was very great. She had a wound on the elbow and cuts and bruises all over her body. Mrs Campbell’s injuries appeared to be dangerous and like Mrs Thompson remained unconscious all through the night, She had a fractured collarbone, a wound on her head and other injuries and they were taken to Mrs Cott’s hotel where they remained all night, being removed the following day by members of the St Marys’ Ambulance Class (Messrs J T Wood, H Francis, F Bonnard, G Giddy and others), on improvised stretchers. Miss Guild and Miss Walker were taken to their respective homes. Miss Guild had one shoulder dislocated besides being bruised a good deal and was suffering a good deal from shock too. Miss Walker suffering from shock had several abrasions about the face and head and many bruises. As soon as the accident happened telegrams were sent, first to Dr Higgins who happened to be in Sydney, then to Dr McMasters who was away visiting the sick and immediately on his return he drove as quickly as possible to relieve the sufferers. Dr Higgins only came by the 6.11 pm train from Sydney on being informed and drove from the station at a gallop. Prior to the arrival of the doctors, Mr Pye the local chemist and several members of the ambulance class assisted to relieve the sufferers. Mr Hope’s buggy had been knocked clean out of shape and the first two wheels had been turned pretty well inside out with the dash and back rail also broken as well as the shafts and splinter bar. The buggy was said to be one of the strongest in the district. By the Thursday evening all the patients were doing well and Reverend H S Buntine busied himself among the injured ones. Those who witnessed the crash said they will never forget it. Reverend Buntine had only been inducted to the Presbyterian charge of St Marys and Rupertswood a week before and came with special recommendations from the Port Macquarie district where he resided for eight years. The farewell for Reverend and Mrs Buntine at the Port Macquarie Church prior to the departure was a brilliant affair with several going away presents including a magnificent Past Master’s Jewel by his fellow members of the Lodge Hastings (Masons). The jewel was made of solid gold and had the bar inscribed with the name of the lodge and a clasp bearing the Reverend’s monogram. The jewel, in the form of a T square had the following inscription “Presented to P.M. Bro, H S Buntine by Lodge Hastings in appreciation of past services.”  

Source: Nepean Times.