A NARROW ESCAPE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1920, Page 3

A NARROW ESCAPE

PRINCE’S TRAIN ACCI DENT. NO DAMAGE DONE. fAUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CAIIMS ASSOCIATION] (Received -this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Reuter advises that a message received from Bridgetown in West Australia, states an accident occurred to the P.rince’s train, two Royal saloons being upset, but no one hurt;. The accident was probably due to forcements of the line at a curve. PRINCE’S TRAIN OVERTURNS.

(Receved this day at 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Further particulars from 'Westrnli; indicate that the Prince of Wales am Lord Halsey miraculously escaped death The Prince was writing a. letter on Halsey hunk, when the Royal carriage lef'i the rails, and toppled over an embank ntent. The Prince’s hunk, which war not a fixture, was smashed. The Princt and Lord Halsey were thrown heavily, almost out of a window, 11s the carriage overturned, but both carefully proceeded to collect their papers. When the passengers in the forward train rushed back to extricate them through the windows of the State carriages. The occupants also narrowly escaped serious injury, several being bumped and shaken, Senator Pearce receiving a blow on the head. A primus stove in this carriage, was upset causing a fire which was quickly extinguished -by willing hands'. Fortu!natf.dy the. train was travelling at only twelve miles an hour, but there was no communication cord, otherwise the driver would have been notified when the Royal Party first experienced the bumping. Th)e cause is attributed to recent heavy rain softening the lightly ballasted track, and each succeeding carriage causing the earth to collapse and the rails to spread. Lord Halsoy subsequently stated it was a mystery that the Prince and himelf were not both killed. He had had many narrow escapes, but that was the narrowest. The Prince impressed all by his coolness throughout. He was quietly smoking amidt the confusion of the upturned train and collecting his belongings, I when the other passengers came to the . rescue. The party are now continuing tlieir journey. (Received this day at 12.20 o.m) EptTH, July 6. At the tjme of the mishap, the Prince and a large Ministerial party were proceeding on 'a western tour. The accident occurred at a. sharp bend in the turn ten miles from Bridgetown in the afternoon. A pilot engine, proceeding the train, passed safely, but the weight of the Royal train gradually spread the rails on the. narrow, line; until when the pear carriages reached them they wore too wide to carry them. News of the accident was rigidly suppressed until they reached Bridgetown. Lord Halsey sent out an official statement. The Prince received a great ovation and many congratulations on his escape on arrival at Bridgetown. Messages of congratulations are now pouring upon him from all quarters. All those derailed in the Royal Ministerial car received a shock and some cuts and bruises; the Prince was absolutely unhurt, and is apparently suffering little from the shaking, f another account. (Received this day at 1.5 p.m./y SYDNEY, July 6. Another account, by Mr Arthur Adams, states the; scene of the accident to the Prince’s train was iii the solicitude of thp bush, 4 pijles from anywhere. The first thing the other passengers in the forward cars knew of the accident was a sudden stoppage. Looking back they saw two cars lying on their sides with the prpcedipg' cap off flip line a hundred yards hack ,twisted in an ox- , traordinary manner, showing the Royal car had bumped for a long distance over the sleepers. \ There was no sign of the occupants, but from the preceding car a lose famt blue smoke came through the broken windows as the car lay on its side,. Th e firfi was goon (loused bv the orderlies climbing on to the side of the car, and pouring water down. Just previous to the accident the train had to stop apd whistle, because of a cow on the line. When it again stopped, someone as a joke said: "Was it the cow again.” When the accident happened Lord

Mounthatten jumped from tho still moving train, and sprinted back to the Royal ear, now dragging along on its side. He shouted out, and heard a cheerful voice inside. So lie knew that all was right. 1 The Prince’s valet (Smith) also raced ( up,Nand lowered himself through the carriage window and found the Prince 4nd Halsey cMmly collecting their gear. Lord Mpunihatteii asked (he Pripce: “Are you hnyt? n . ( The Prince laughingly replied: ‘No and added, .“Make no blessed Fuss about me; Are tile rest 0.K.” i When assured that none were seriously hurt, he said: “Then I’ll collect my gear.” He was chiefly concerned about his favourite pipe, which was lost among his smashed belongings, but lie managed to find it. By the time the Prince had finished getting his things together, the inmates' of the other cars had'collected round the Royal car. When the Prince put his head through the window he was gveted with genuine cheers of 3elight. s rhe first thing ho said, I laughingly and gleefully was: “Auy--1 wav at least, we have done a thing not j on the official programme).” I He continued joking about the. incident, asking about others. I Commander Newport, the Pripce s physician, received a nasty gash on tin ‘leg.i General Hobbs and premier. Mitchell were amongst those Tll the derailed ears. Mitchell, who was asleep, 1 was shot through a window unhurt. He remarked: “Anyway I’m on land. ’ Lord Hamilton ricked his hack, but not seriously. * Hon. George, Minister of Works, was imprisoned in the lavatory. His voice was hoard therefrom, vigorously protesting against things in general. Ultimately lie was located and rescued suffering from a cut fare and shock. Lord Halsey, who remained at the Prince’s right hand all through, toox

the wise .precaution to stop the despatch of wires until he sent one announcing that he personally vouched for the Prince’s safety. The disabled cars were uncoupled and left on the line. The Prince was tunsferred to a forward car, and the train resumed its journey. At Bridgeton an old Ministerial car was attached. The Prince decided to continuo the toiir according to programme. The party arrived at Bunbury at ten o'clock where they remained for the night, and slept aboard the trains.