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Quicksands at Hayle

Date: 1850-05-30
Occurred
173 years 39 weeks ago

QUICKSANDS AT HAYLE

On Thursday evening week, Mr. Lang, of Bristol, having completed his business at Hayle, proceeded, on the further prosecution of his journey, towards St. Ives, and in passing on enquired if it were safe to drive across the sands; upon receiving an answer in the affirmative, Mr. Lang at once proceeded at a sharp pace, but had not reached more than two-thirds across, when, to his great surprise and alarm, his horse suddenly dis- appeared, and he felt his carriage sinking rapidly into the quicksands. Mr. Lang immediately made a spring from his seat, and with much difficulty struggled his way till he eventually got upon terra frma. With the aid of about twenty men, who fortunately observed the accident at a distance, and who ran to his assistance, he succeeded in releasing his horse from the harness and shafts, and when the horse heard his master's summons, "come out Old Bob," he gallantly, but not without desperate efforts, plunged until he got out of the quicksands, in which he was nearly submerged. By means of ropes and tackle the carriage was also brought up, and Mr. Lang having handsomely remunerated the people who had thus rendered him such timely service, was enabled to get on to St. Ives, resolving never again to trust himself on the Hayle sands, but to go round by the Causeway in future. If this accident had happened after dark, or had the tide been flowing, the chances of escape would have been almost hopeless.

7 June 1850 West Briton