PRESIDENT DESCHANEL
FALL FROM A TRAIN. A NARROW ESCAPE. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, May 24. While proceeding to Mountbrison to unveil a memorial to Raymont, senator and aviator, President Dcschanel. walking in a corridor, fell through an open door and was not missed until the train had travelled 40 miles.
A fottler picked up M. Dcschanel, who was unconscious. When he recovered he said: “I am the President.” He failed to convince the workman, who thought him insane and conveyed him to Montargis. Madame Dcschanel and M. Millcrand have pone to Montargis. M. Deschanel had suffered from an influenza attack but he insisted on travelling to fulfil public engagements. M. Deschand has returned to the Elysce. He is not seriously hurt though he had the narrowest escape.
There were a number of curious incidents in connection with the accident. M. Deschanel went to n sleeping car, telling his valet not to call him till morning. Feeling the carriage stuffy he attempted to open the window and fell out. Fortunately the train had slackened speed going round a curve and the President fell on a sandy patch, being temporarily stunned. When ho recovered ho we.lkcd barefooted, clad in pyjamas and his face bleeding until he met a plate layer, who received the President's story with the frankest scepti-
■d-m. This remoed justified when the sta-Eonmc-'er’s telegram sent to the President'a train end inquiring whether any acc:Vn; had taken place was answered by an emphatic “No."
None thought it worth while to look into the sleeping compartment, and five minutes later, when ihe valet found it empty, com tarnation reigned. Meanwhile the railway officials were worrying the sub-prefect at Montargis regarding an unknown individual scantily clad who was suffering from an hallucination that he was the President of the republic. The nib-prefect accordingly motored to the platelayer’s cottage, where he found that the injured man wn« really the head of the French republic. lie wn? quickly’ carried to the prefecture at Montargis, where his wounds were dressed and an anti-tetanus
injection made. It is expected that M. Deschand will com plctely recover in ten days.
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Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 5
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358PRESIDENT DESCHANEL Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 5
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