FRENCH PRESIDENT FALLS OUT OF WINDOW OF RAILROAD CAR
Montargis, France (JFK+50) On May 23, 1920, Paul Deschanel*, President of the Republic of France, fell out of a window of his moving railroad car as he was traveling from Paris to Montbrison.
The incident occurred shortly after the train passed Montargis and slowed down to half its normal speed. The President had been sleeping and woke to a draft from the window. When he attempted to close the window, he fell out onto a sandy roadbed.
President Deschanel, clad in his pajamas, proceeded to walk toward the town of Lorcy** when he encountered a track walker who accompanied him to the town.
Fortunately, the President only sustained a head laceration and bruised leg. Interestingly, his advisers on the train had no idea of this incident until the next morning.
The President's behavior became increasingly erratic over time. He walked out of a meeting and into a lake fully clothed. Deschanel was forced to resign in 1920 and placed in a sanatorium for three months. After release, he won a seat in the Senate (Jan 1921) where he served until his death.
*Paul Eugene Louis Deschanel (1855-1922) was born in Brussels where his father was in exile by Napoleon. He studied law & became a member of the Democratic Republican Alliance, a progressive party. PELD was president of France Feb 18 to Sept 21, 1920.
**Lorcy is a commune in the Loiret department of North Central France; Montargis is located 68 miles South of Paris & is known as the "Venice of the Gatinels" because of its many canals & bridges.
SOURCE
"May 1920", www.en.wikipedia.org/
Montargis, France (JFK+50) On May 23, 1920, Paul Deschanel*, President of the Republic of France, fell out of a window of his moving railroad car as he was traveling from Paris to Montbrison.
The incident occurred shortly after the train passed Montargis and slowed down to half its normal speed. The President had been sleeping and woke to a draft from the window. When he attempted to close the window, he fell out onto a sandy roadbed.
President Deschanel, clad in his pajamas, proceeded to walk toward the town of Lorcy** when he encountered a track walker who accompanied him to the town.
Fortunately, the President only sustained a head laceration and bruised leg. Interestingly, his advisers on the train had no idea of this incident until the next morning.
The President's behavior became increasingly erratic over time. He walked out of a meeting and into a lake fully clothed. Deschanel was forced to resign in 1920 and placed in a sanatorium for three months. After release, he won a seat in the Senate (Jan 1921) where he served until his death.
*Paul Eugene Louis Deschanel (1855-1922) was born in Brussels where his father was in exile by Napoleon. He studied law & became a member of the Democratic Republican Alliance, a progressive party. PELD was president of France Feb 18 to Sept 21, 1920.
**Lorcy is a commune in the Loiret department of North Central France; Montargis is located 68 miles South of Paris & is known as the "Venice of the Gatinels" because of its many canals & bridges.
SOURCE
"May 1920", www.en.wikipedia.org/
Paul Deschanel
elysee.fr (1920)
www.wikimedia.org/
