THE PRINCES'S RESOURS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1920, Page 3

THE PRINCES'S RESOURS

HOW HE. MET THE CROWD IN ADELAIDE. SYDNEY, July 14. Last night, at 10 o’clock, the Prince of Wales proposed to leave the Grand Central Hotel in Adelaide and- proceed to Government House, where a ball was in progress. But when lie and his stall emerged from the front door they were faced by a sea of thousands upon thousands of cheering people. They were packed into the square so thickly that no control over them was possible. The Prince looked at his ear—a black island amidst while faces, lor -0 yards away—and then he smiled. Ullicialdom wanted to lorce a way tor him, ruthlessly, through the crowd, hut

“the People’s Prince” would not agree to that at all. He re-entered the hotel aml made his way to an upper window. There he signalled what lie wanted—a clear path to the car. But the people thought e was Vaving his friendly hand to them, and tJ I cy cheered delightedly; Then, though his staff demurred, the Prince took matters into his own hands. He leaned out of the window and saw the iron roof of the verandah about sit below. It was a risky thing in do—but the Prince leaped through the window on to the narrow roof, landing on its slippery surface safely. Their, taking o!f his hat to the wildly excited crowd. |,o walked the whole length of the verandah. The Govurn*r, who had followed him through the window, joined him.

Then the Prince quieted the crowd bv raising his hand, thanked the people for coining to see him, and then cordially, but pointedly, wished them good-night as he wished to get awav. Then the Prince and the Governor climbed hack through the window and waited. But the crowd did not disperse. Some effort was made, voluntarily to clear a wav for him, but it came to nothing; the throng wa* too dense. The Prince insisted that he could reach his stranded care, but he was finally persuaded to make an exit by a side door. Another car was brought down a side lane, and the Prince got away in it. rapidly, without the crowd in front having any 7 suspicion that he was escaping. This side door is known in the popular hotel as the “bride and bridegroom’s life escape,” it being frequently used to facilitate the escape of newly-wed couples, in secret, from the bridal party. The sangfroid and resource of the Prince, displayed in this incident as in the AYest Australian train smash greatly endeared him to the Australian people. I-Tis visit- to this country which in a political sense was regarded as a most “difficult.” is proving a very remarkable personal and diplomatic triumph.