TRAGIC ALPINE CRASH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18954, 3 March 1936, Page 10

TRAGIC ALPINE CRASH

TAXICAB OVER PRECIPICE PLUNGE INTO RIVER VIENNA, Jan. 12. A taxicab, into which eight persons were crowded, skidded on an icy road in the Slyrian Alps last night and plunged over a precipice into a raging mountain torrent.

Six of the passengers were drowned, nlid a seventh was badly injured. The eighth had a remarkable escape, and was unhurt.

The party consisted id' a priest, Father fienedilct Kropper, and seven other members of Dr. Schuselniigg’s armed Catholic organisation. They were on their way through the moiinlaiiis, near the winter sports village of Mariiiz.ell, lo attend a gala of the organisation. It was while they were driving along an Alpine road through the Wa Inter valley Hint the accident, oeeurred. Rounding a sharp eurvo the driver lost control of the vehicle, owing to I lie heavy load, and it plunge,| through deep snow over the rocks into the Hooded River VValster.

The only uninjured survivor helped I In- other survivor, who was badly hurt, to I lie shore, and dragged himself, half frozen, along the road till lie met a motor-cyclist, who took the news lo the nearest village. Father Beuedikt Kropper was choirmaster • in the famous church at Murinz.ell—where there is a shrine which at-

tracts great numbers of pilgrims—one of the most eloquent preachers of Austria. and a friend and former schoolfellow of Dr. Schusclinigg,