The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-09-04

dent or the United States escaped a
tragic death by only few feet in col
lision between his carriage and an cleo
trio street car in this city today, while
one of his most trusted guards, Secret
Service Agent william Craig. was instant-
ly killed and David J. Pratt Of Dalton.
who was guiding the horses attached to
the vehicle was seriously injured.
President Roosevelt himself was badly
shaken up. but received only slight
facial bruise Secretary Cortelyou who
occupied seat directly opposite the
President sustained minor wound In
the back Of the head and Governor Crane
who sat besidx the President extricated
himself from the wreck practically with
out scratch. The carriage was de-
molished ny the impact of the rapidly
moving car and the wheelhorse on the
side nearest the car was killed outright
The crew and passengers Of the car es-
capped injury.
The President and party were driving
from this city to Lenox through South
Street one of the principal thorough
fares of Pittsfield, which was lined wi...
cheering people. The catastrophe &C.
CURED in plain view Of hundreds whose
happiness at the advent of the nations
CHIEF was suddenly turned to grief.
WENT TO PAY A CALL.
Thousands had poured into the city in
the early morning from the nearby coun-
try to see and hear the President, ana
his address at the City Park had been
loudly cheered. At the conclusion of the
exercises, he wished to make brief call
on former Senator Dawes, whose house
on Elm Street is but a short distance
from the park. The Presidents car
rage in which he had ridden In from
Governor Cranes home at Dalton was
accordingly driven to the Dawes resi-
dence and carriages containing num-
Der of other gentlemen in the party toi-
lowed. President Roosevelt's call was
a short one and then the carriages re-
turned to the City Square. After Few
minutes delay the journey to Lenox was
begun. Meanwhile the mounted escorts
of police officers and the carriages con-
tanning the newspaper correspondents
who have accompanied the President on
his tour, had started off ahead on the
road to Lenox and were some distance
in advance of the Presidents equipage.
Three or four other open carriages teii
in line Immediately behind the landau in
which the President rode with Secretary
Cortelyou and Governor Crane. Secret
Service Agent Craig. who, throughout
the New england trip has been almost
constantly at the Presidents elbow was
on the drivers box beside Coachman
Pratt.
DESCRIPTION OF SCENE.
Out through. South Street Is a broad
smooth highway. The tracks OF the
Pittsfield Electric Street Railway are laid
in the center of the road with ample
room for teams on each side and scores
of vehicles of every description followed
along this road behind the President
party. Shortly after he left the park,
an electric car. which had been hlled
with passengers at that point, started
toward Lenox well behind the process
sion. 1t passed all of the teams and was
about a mile and a half out from the
city at the beginning of Howard Hill and
was nearly up to the President car
rage which was travelling on the west
side of the highway. Just at the foot
of Howard Hill the road bends little
and teams are compelled to cross the
street railway tracks to the east side
The railroad then continues at one SIDE
Of the street instead of the center. Al
this point the upward grade of the hill
begins. But a short distance beyond the
crossing there is narrow bride span
ming a small brook
The trolley car approached the road
crossing under a good head of speed with
gong changing just as the driver OF
the Presidents carriage turned his lead
ers to cross the tracks. On each side OF
the Chief Executives carriage rode two
mounted troopers of the local cavalry
comnany and the horsemen on the left
of the landau had turned onto the track
with the trolley car Immediately behind
them though some yards distant. Alarm
err by the changing gong they ootn turn
ed in their saddles and waved vigorously
to the motorman to stop his car.
TRIED TO STOP CAR.
Almost at the same instant Governor
Crane, who quickly perceived the danger,
rose to his feet and likewise motioned TO
the motorman. The latter in great ex-
element desperately tried to stop his
car, but too late. 1t crashed into the car
rage as a loud moan went up from the
frenzied onlookers who thronged the road
side and who but a moment before were
cheering the PRESIDENT. Inc norSemen
managed to get their frightened animals
out of the way just in time and the car
struck the rear wheel of the carriage on
the left side and ploughed through to the
front wheel of the vehicle which received
the full force of the blow. The carriage
was upset in the twinkling of an eye and
one horse fell dead on the tracks. The
other three powerful grays attached to
the vehicle started to run and dragged
by them and pushed by the force of the
car the wrecked carriage was moved thir-
ty to forty feet.
Agent Craig fell from his seat imme-
diately in front of the car and 1t passed
completely over his body. Driver Pratt.
in falling, struck the head Of the morse
Immediately in front o. him and rolled
clear of him, thus escaping similar
fate. The President, Governor Crane and
Secretary Cortelyou were thrown togeth-
or in the bottom of their carriage Al
most instantly a score of men jumped to
the heads of the frightened horses and
stopped their further progress.
CRANE ASSISTS PRESIDENT.
Governor Crane was the first to get to
hts feet entirely unhurt. He turned i'm
mediateIy TO the President. helped the lat
ter to arise and together they assisted
Secretary Cortelyou.
The Presidents lip was cut and blood
was flowing from the wound. His clothing
was much disarranged and he was Sc
verely shaken up. Secretary Cortelyou