Though “How It Happened” is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male character, readers are told at the beginning that the tale itself has actually been set down by a writing medium. This creates some ambiguity as to the nature and source of the narrator and his narrative, but it eventually becomes clear that the writing medium is using her supernatural powers to tell the story on behalf of the narrator, who is dead.
The narrator’s story begins with a reflection on his shaky memory of a specific evening and the challenge it poses in narrating the story. He recounts certain events vividly, while others are hazy, as if they’re from a dream. Nevertheless, he recalls everything that happened after he arrived at a country station from London. He recounts being picked up at the station by Perkins, his chauffeur, in his (the narrator’s) new 30-horsepower Robur. Perkins advises the narrator not to drive as the car’s gears are unfamiliar, but the narrator ignores his warning. They drive home without any problem, until they begin their descent down Claystall Hill, which the narrator says is one of the worst in London. Here, the narrator recounts the harrowing descent, describing how both the car’s brakes fail as they are accelerating down the hill. After navigating through two difficult curves in the road, Perkins offers to take the wheel and let the narrator jump. The narrator refuses and returns the offer to Perkins, who also declines. As they hurtle toward a third curve, the narrator admires the deathly beauty of the automobile.
The car clears the corner but crashes into the pillar of the narrator’s home gate. The narrator flies through the air and goes unconscious. When he wakes, he notices a man standing next to him whom he recognizes as his old friend from college, Stanley. He is surprised to see him but does not question it after the excitement of the car crash. He observes the scene of the crash and hears an injured Perkins calling after him, though neither Perkins nor any of the bystanders appear to hear him when he calls back. Stanley asks if there is any pain, and the narrator says no. Stanley, for his part, isn’t surprised to hear this, merely noting that there never is any pain in situations like the narrator’s. This prompts the narrator to remember that Stanley died in the Boer War years before. Startled, he says, “Stanley, you are dead,” to which Stanley smiles and replies, “So are you.”
