 Louise , Lorne , and two attendants , were hurt in a sleigh accident on 14 February 1880 . The winter was particularly severe , and the carriage in which they were traveling overturned , throwing the coachman and footman from the sleigh . The horses then panicked , and dragged the overturned carriage over more than 400 yards ( 370 m ) of ground . Louise was knocked unconscious when she hit her head on the iron bar supporting the roof , and Lorne was trapped underneath her , expecting " the sides of the carriage to give way at any moment " . Eventually , as they overtook the sleigh ahead , the horses calmed , and the occupant of that sleigh , Princess Louise 's aide @-@ de @-@ camp , ordered an empty carriage to convey the injured party back to Rideau Hall . 
