The Washington times., 1935-08-29
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Monarch Reveals How
Accident HaPpenedin
First Statement
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The body OF the queen mas |
been rushed to the villa Haslihorn
in the hamlet Of Horn near Lu-
cerne, where for the past few
weeks the royal couple had been
On vacation.
His head swathed in bandages
and still dazed by the tragedy,
King Leopold walked painfully
through the gates of the estate
and gazed upon the features OF
Astrid. He bore up bravely, but
the enormity Of the tragedy, fol.
lowing so swiftly upon the loss OF
his father, obviously affected him
greatly.
Queen Astrid, 1t was revealed by
friends, was an expectant mother.
The royal pair already had three
children.
The only witness to the tragedy
was the chauffeur, but his own
injuries and the shock Of the
accident prevented him from tell
ing a coherent story.
Peasants residing in the tiny
hamlet of Merli Chachen, which
borders the famous body Of
water, were the first on the
scene.
they picked up the shattered
body of the Queen and attempted
to aid Leopold and his chauffeur.
It was apparent Immediately that
Astrid, whose head struck the
trunk Of the tree with terrific
impact, had died Immediately
from a fractured skull.
The accident occurred shortly
before 10 o'clock in the morning.
The royal couple had left their
villa early, pla ming a ride
through the beautiful country
side. While Leopold Is not re-
garded as a reckless driver, he en-
joys driving fast and the Car was
believed proceeding at rapid
pace when the accident happened.
For the past few weeks, Queen
Astrid and King Leopold had been
on vacation in the Swiss and 1tal'
ian Alps. Not long ago they made
a difficult ascent Of one Of the
Dolomite peaks, which the late
King Albert always liked to climb,
and visited q stone memorial
: placed on the spot to commem-
crate the Monarch'S climb.
It was in Switzerland that Leo
pold, then Crown Prince. learned
of the death Of his father in Feb
ruary, 1884.
Swiss PeOpIe GrieyO
Switzerland, closely akin to Bel
GUM in language, keenly felt the
shock Of the tragedy. Queen AS
trid was popular visitor.
In Geneva, where world states
men are gathering for the League
of Nations Council session, sum
moned to consider the 1talo-
Ethiopia dispute, news Of her sud-
den death came as great shock.
There was great concern also
over the condition Of King Leo
pold. Considerably secrecy sur.
rounded the nature Of his injuries.
The Kussnacht police insisted he
was not dangerously hurt.
Leopold and Astrid were
married in Brussels amid great
pomp on November 10, 1925. AS
trid came to Belgium direct from
her native Stockholm, where for
many years rumorS had been rife
linking her Economically with the
Prince of Wales.
Members of the royal encourage
Immediately dispatched news OF
the accident to Brussels.
Autos Jam Road
Within a short time after the
accident occurred, the road to
Kussnacht was damned With auto
mobiles carrying reporters,
cameramen, and curious citizens.
The water is shallow at the spot
where the car fell into the lake,
and at a late hour the shattered
machine was still visible.
On the scene were officials OF
the KuSSnacht police attempting
to give a comprehensive account
Of the accident.
The police chief told 1nterna.
tional News Service:
ga number Of peasants saw
the Kings car travelling at least
80 kilOmeters $50 miles, an
hour.
ut was rushing straight down
the narrow road in the direction
of Lucerne when 1t suddenly
swerved and plunged over a
bank three meters (abOut nine
feet) high and fell into the lake.
"ThOse who arrived first at
the scene summoned police, who
helped to carry the body Of the
Queen from the spot where she
had met her death and took the
King and his chauffeur to the
village.
There a doctor treated his In.
juries and gave him q hypO-
dermic to quiet his nerves.
Needless to say, the King
was shocked into speechleSSneSS
by the tragedy.
'He walked silently to and
fro, his head in bandages, while
waiting for a coffin. to be
brought from Lucerne I'm which
the body of the Queen was later
taken to her villa.
Under guard, We left the
body by the side Of the lake
until the coffin was obtained.
Then we placed It In the casket
and escorted the bereaved King
and his chauffeur back to the