THE TRAIN SMASH IN CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1919, Page 5

THE TRAIN SMASH IN CANADA.

MASSEY PARTY'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Auckland, August 6. It was a miraculous escape which Mr Massey and party experienced in the train smash on the Canadian National railway between Halifax and Montreal The party consisted of the Prime Minister, Mrs. and Miss Massey, Mr. F. D. Thomson (private secretary), and Mr. R. Riley. The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning, when the heavy train was making about 50 miles an hour on a level stretch. The party, who occupied a special car attached to the rear of the train, were rudely awakened about 1.50 a.m. by a terriffic joltting and swaying, which continued for what seemed a rather long time before the train finally was brought up by ths violent, application of the brakes. By this time the Minister's car was partially wrecked, though the extent of the occupants had not realised the extent of the smash. As they grouped about in the darkness amidst the broken glass and piles of luggage an attendant called out excitedly that the underpart of the carriage was on fire. It was discovered that* tho door was jambed, and as it was being wrenched open another attendant crawled under the wrecked car and extinguished tlw fire by smashing the electric gear. Tho party then proceeded leisurely to dress in the capricious light from cheap matches. The ladies displayed an admirable courage throughout, although subjected to much danger and having an exceptionally rough experience, their compartments being littered with shattered glass. Fortunately, none of. the party was injured, and soon all wen out before dawn investigating the nature of the accident. A rail had snapped, leaving a gap of about 3ft„ derailing four'cars. The last car fared the worst. It hftd swung across the track from the outset of the derailment and had careered along a low embank< raent, sledging into the ballasting deeply for over a quarter of a mile. Then the underpart of the car fouled a loose rail by the wayside, with the result that the rear bogie on six wheels had been wrenched off like the wheels of the train, and left, overhanging a marshy place at the foot of the embankment. The car had been dragged over (j|)o yards at .00 miles an hour, part of the perilous ride having been as on a toboggan. The track was Wrecked for tho full distance. Only one member of the party was thrown out of his bed, his feet smashing the leadlight window before he could' scramble back to his bunk. After about ten hours' delay, the party safely reached Montreal, where they spent the week-end.