NARROW ESCAPE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1389, 6 July 1920, Page 5

NARROW ESCAPE.

Prince's Train Derailed. ROYAL CAR OVERTURNS. MARVELLOUS ESCAPE FROM TRAGEDY. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) Sydney, July 6. Further particulars from Western Australia indicate that the of Wales and Admiral Halsey miraculously escaped death. The Prince was writing a letter on Admiral Halsey's bunk when the Royal carriage left the rails and toppled over an embankment. The Prince's bunk, which was not a fixture, was smashed and the Prince and Admiral Halsey were thrown heavily almost out of the "window as the carriage overturned.

Both calmly proceeded to collect their papers when the passengers in the forepart of the train rushed back to extricate them through the windows. The State carriage occupants also narrowly escaped serious injury, several being bumped and shaken. Senator Pearce received a blow on the head.

The primus stove in this carriage upset, causing a fire, which was quickly extinguished by willing hands. Fortunately the train was travelling at only 12 miles an hour, but there was no communication cord otherwise the driver would have been notified when the Royal party first experienced the bumping.

The cause is attributed to the recent heavy rain softening the lightly ballasted track, each succeeding carriage causing the earth to collapse and the rails to spread. Admiral Halsey subsequently stated that it was a mystery why the Prince and himself were not both killed. He had had many narrow escapes, but that was the narrowest.

The Prince impressed all by his coolness throughout, and was quietly smoking amidst the confusion of the upturned train and collecting the belongings when the other passengers came to the rescue.

The party is now continuing the journey.