Evening star., 1902-09-03
LOCAL ADVICEs RECEIVED.
Secret Service Agent Craig Was Well
Known Here

colonel Montgomery in charge at the
temporary White House in Washington, re-
eeived a telegram shortly after IL o'clock
this morning stating that an electric street
car, running at high speed, crashed into
the Presidents carriage near Lenox, Mass,
threw the occupants out and reduced the
vehicle to splinters. The dispatch stated
that the President fortunately was only
slightly scratched. Governor Crane and
Representative Lawrence were slightly
bruised, and Mr.. Cortelyou, private secre-
tary to the President, was very badly,
though it was not thought seriously, cut
about the face and head. William Craig,
the secret service man who has been regu-
larly on duty at the White House, it was
stated, was thrown In front of the car and
killed.
Colonel Montgomery immeda tely in
formed Mr.. Loeb, assistant private secre-
tary to the President, who is now at Oyster
Bay, and it is assumed that the latter
promptly advised Mrs. Roosevelt of the oc-
currence and of the Presidents fortunate
escape.
Chief John E. Wilkie of the secret service
Is in receipt of the following telegram con-
cernng the accident to the Presidents S
party:
LENOX, Mass, September 3.
Wllk1e, Treasury Department, Washington: ::
Presidents carriage struck by electric car
at 9:3O this morning. Craig killed Presi-
dent unhurt TAYLOR
Richard Taylor is one of the secret service
operatives with the President
Report From DR.. Lung.
Admiral Rixey, surgeon general of the
navy, is in receipt of the following telegram
from DR.. G. A. Lung, the Presidents ply
sician:
LENOX, Mass, September ?, 1902.
Surgeon General P. M. Rixey.
Washington, d. c.
While between Pittsfield and Lenox at
9:30 this morning the Presidents carriage
dent and Mr.. Cortelyou received slight con-
| tusions about the face. Injuries not seri-
Gus. VIII continue journey.
g. A. LUNG,
Surgeon, L. S. N.
Detective Craig Well Known Here
Detective Craig who was killed in the ac-
cident, was well known here. Since last
October he had been stationed at the White
House and had accompanied President
Roosevelt on all Of his journeys out of
Washington He was also assigned to
| Oyster Bay. In brief, his duty was to be
always with or near President Roosevelt
and he had faithfully carried out the Or
ders of Chief Wilkie of the secret service
Night and day he kept close to the Presi-
dent. When the latter was out on trip
like that which he is just ending Craig
different cities and towns. Craig generally
obtained a place on the Presidents vehicle
most often sitting with the driver At
times he had some amusing exparienceS in
the way of people trying to prevent his rid
ing the seat with the driver.
Craig was about forty-iive years old and
was noted athlete. He came to this coun-
try twenty-five years ago from Scotland
where he was born and reared. He talked
with Scotch-Irish accent. He entered the
secret service four years ago, having been
nv taA Froy, hi toor hfeh hOs, IT,
unmarried. but has a mother and two sis
ters in Chicago. Two brothers also live at
Holyoke, Mass, near where the accident
occurred. For a numbers of years Craig
was an instructor in athletics in the Ar
mour Institute in Chicago He was for
several years the champion broadswords-
| man of this country. He was an expert
horseman, a fine pistol and gun shot,
boxer Of no mean ability and wrestler of
note.
Devoted to the President.
After the assassination of President Nc
Kinley the secret service office decided to
keep man near President Roosevelt all
the time as possible and Craig, because of
his athletic prowess, his GOODNESS and abso-
lutte lack of fear. WAS selected for the posi-
ton During all the time President Roose-
welt was in Washington Craig was at the
White House, except at night. He was six
feet two inches tall, a smooth-faced broad
shouldered fellow, with a partially bald
head and gray and black hair.
President Roosevelt at first resented the
idea of having detective near him. and
many a time gave Craig worry by disap-
pearng from the White House without the
alert detective knowing where he had gone.
Later on, when the President found that he
could not lose his shadow he became ac-
customed to the presence of Craig and grew
to like him immensely.
Craig was a former member Of the
C.ueer's GIenadiers. Years ago he gave ex-
hibitions with Duncan Ross and was cred
tied with many victories over him. Craig
caught and arrested a crank at Montpelier
who was attempting to reach the President
on his trip.