A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12711, 5 August 1919, Page 5

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

TRAIN SMASH DESCRIBED.

[Pee. Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 6. It was a miraculous escape which Mr Massey and his party experienced in the train smash on the Canadian National Railway between Halifax and Montreal. _ The party consisted of the Prime Minister, Mrs and Mss Massey, Mr P. D. Thompson (private secretary), and Mr R. Riley. The accident Occurred in the early hours of the morning. \vhen the heavy train was rn nl-iur/ about fifty miles an hour on a level stretch. The party, who occupied a special oar attached to the rear of the train, were rudely awakened about 1.50 a.m. by a terrific jolt. The jolting and swaying continued for what seemed rather a long time before the train finally was brought up by the violent application or the brakes. By this time the Minister's car was partially wrecked, though the occupants had not realised the extent of the smash. As they groped about in the darkness amidst broken glass and piles of luggage, au attendant called out excitedly that the under part of the carriage was on fire. It was discovered that the door was jammed, and as it was being wrenched open another car attendant crawled under the wrecked car and extinguished the fire by smashing the electrical gear. The party then proceeded leisurely to dress in the capricious light from cheap matches.

The ladies displayed admirable courage throughout, although they were subjected to much danger and exceptionally rough experience, their 'compartments being littered with shattered glass. None of the party was injured, and soon all were out. An investigation as to the nature of the accident showed that a rail had snapped, leaving a gap of about three feet, and derailing four cars. The-last car fared the worst. It had swung across the track from the outset of the derailment, and had careered along a low embankment, scoring the ballasting deeply for over a quarter of a mile. The under-part of the car fouled the loose rail by the wayside, with the result that the rear bogie, on six wheels, had been wrenched of! like the wheels of a toy train, and was left ’overhanging the-marshy place at the foot of the embankment. The car had been dragged over 600 yards at fifty miles per hour; part of the -perilous ride having been as on a toboggan. The track was wrecked for the full distance. Only one member of the party was thrown off his bed. his feet smashing the leadlight window before be could scramble hack to his bare bunk. After about ten hours’ delay the party safely reached Montreal, where they spent the week-end.