Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-09-08
ESCAPES TRAGIC
DEATH IN A
CAR COLLISION
TALLY-HO RUN
INTO BY MOTOR CAR.
SECRET AGENT is KILLED
President Receives Slight Injuries and
Secretary CorteIyou More Severely
ounded-Motorman and Conduc-
tor Held Responsible-Oyster Bay
and Washington Alarmed.

Pittsfield Mass, Sept. 4.-The Pres
ident Of the United States escaped
tragic death by only a few feet in a
collision between his carriage and ali
electric street car in this city yester-
day while one of his most trusted
J guards, Secret Service Agent Wuiam
Craig, was instantly killed and David
| J. Pratt of Dalton, who was guiding
the horses attached to the vehicle,
seriously injured President Roose-
welt himself was badly shaken UP, but
received only slight facial bruise
Secretary Courtelyou sustained &
minor wound in the back Of the heau
ana Governor Crane, who sat beside
the president, extricated himself from
! the wreck partially without a scratch.
| The carriage was demolished by 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 escaped in
jury. The president and his party
were driving from this city to Lenox
through South street, one of the prin-
cipal thoroughfares OF Pittsfield,
which was lined with cheering people
and the catastrophe occurred in plain
view of hundreds.
The trolley car approached the roau
crossing under a good head of speeu,
| the gong changing, just as the driverot
the presidents carriage turned the
| leaders to cross the tracks. On each
side of the chief executives carriage
rode two mounted troopers Of the local
cavalry and the horsemen on the left
of landau had turned on to the track
with the trolley carimmediately behind
them, though some yards distant.
Alarmed by the changing gong, both
| turned in their saddles and waveG
vigorously to the motorman to stop
the car. Almost at the same instant
| Governor Crane, who quickly perceived
the danger rose to his feet, and like
wise motioned to the motorman.
The latter in great excitement des-
perately tried to stop the car, but it
was too late. Agent Craig fell from
| the seat Immediately in front OF the
car and it passed completely over his
body. The presidents lip was cut,
and blood was flowing from the
wound. His clothing was much dis
arranged and he was severely shaken
up. Secretary Cortelyou had a severe
wound in the back Of his head from
which the blood was flowing freely.
The president quickly regalned his
composure and the three soon after
repaired to the residence of Charles
R. Stevens, near the scene of the &C
ciden1.. Craigs body was found just
behind the car The shoulders and
chest were crushed and body fright
fully mangIed. Driver Pratt was found
unconscious in the road, his shoulder
dislocated and ankle sprained and his
face badly cut and bruised. He was
immediately placed in a carriage and
taken to the House of Mercy, where
the physicians last night said he would
recover. Craigs body was taken to
the residence of Mrs. A. B. Stevens,
the adjoining house to which the pres
ident repaired with Governor Crane
and Secretary Cortelyou, and the lat
ter was removed to the undertaking
rooms in this city Doctors Colt
Thomas and Woodruff arrived and at
tended the president and his secretary
Half an hour later the party appeared
ard resumed it's journey to Lenox. An
anxious crowd meanwhile surrounded
the house and the president stopped
long enough to assure the people that
he was not injured in the least and tC
express his great grief at the death OF
Craig.
Motorman Madden and Conductor
Kelly were released on bail last night
The charges against them are~man
slaughter. The bail for the motormar
was $4,000, for Kelly $4,000.
President at Oyster Bay.
Oyster Bay, Sept. 4.-President
Roosevelt returned last night but little
the worse for the thrilling experience
yesterday morning. His right cheek
was swollen, there were black bruises
under his right eye and his mouth was
slightly swollen Otherwise he showed
no effects of the accident. He will &C
south the latter part of the week &C
cording to the original schedule