[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Enclosed account of the
adventures of a lady travelling lately from Dublin to Clonmcl is an instance of difficulties encountered continually by unfortunate passengers who arc obliged to travel by rail in Ireland.—I am, Sir, &c.,
H. W. R.
" We had an awful day of it. Left Kingstown at 7 a.m. to come by Dublin S.E. At Macmine had to wait two hours to get across a bridge blown up for the seventh time. We were pushed across in trollies by men. Got another train which was held up outside Waterford and the mails raided. Another two hours wait there, train to Fiddown, motor to Carrick, and finally we thought the last stage was reached when we got into the train from Carrick to Clonniel, but just as we got near Antler Castle the train stopped and Republicans ordered everyone and their luggage out. The hand luggage was taken and pitched down the embankment into a hedge, even my umbrella, a parcel of roses and box of china. We were ordered to go up the line and to hurry. We stumbled along in the dark a good way up the line. We were ordered to go down the embankment and cross a barbed wire fence into a field, all the time being urged to ' hurry on.' I asked where we were being sent to and what they were doing, but the other people in the train kept on saying don't say a word," don't speak at all.' Meantime- the engine had been sent up the line, and presently we saw it coming back full speed and thought it was being sent down the embankment on top of us, so we started tearing across the field away from it. But that was not the scheme. It was sent crash into the standing train—a wand spectacle, like a cinema ! One coach went up into the air, and another overturned. After that, we were told we might go home. We were not allowed to go back for any of our luggage, so trudged into Clonniel (about five miles), arriving home about ten p.m. Isn't it a grand country to travel in 1 Every journey gets more difficult. I hope you will fare better when you attempt it. Everyone says now motors safer than trains."
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