Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-04
Presidential Carriage and Elec-
trio Street Car In Collision
at Pittsfeld Mass.
EXECUTIVE SLIGHTLY BRUISED.
Secret Service Agent Craig Was In
stantIy Killed and David ]. Pratt, OF
Dalton, Seriously lnjured-Cortel
you Receives Minor Wound.

Pittsfeld, Mass, Sept. 4.-The pres
Ident Of the United States escaped
tragic death by only a few feet in
collision between his carriage and an
electric street car in this city yester-
Gay. while one of his most trusted
guards. Secret Service Agent William
Craig, was instantly killed and David
]. Pratt, of Dalton, who was guiding
the horses attached to the vehicle,
vas seriously injured. President
Roosevelt himself was badly shaker
up but received only a slight facial
sruise. Secretary Cortelyou, who oc.
cupied a seat directly opposite the
chief executive in the landau, sus.
t: lined a minor wound in the back OF
u head, and Governor Crane, who
sat beside the president, eXtricated
himself from the wreck practically
without a scratch. The carriage was
demolished by the impact of the rap
idly moving car and the wheel horse
On the side nearest the car was
billed outright. The crew and pas
sengers of the car escaped injury.
In View Of Hundreds.
The president and party were driv'
ing from this city to LenoX through
South street, one Of the principal
lhoroughfares of Pittsfield, which was
lived with cheering people, and the
catastrophe occurred in the plain
view Of hundreds whose happiness at
the advent Of the nations chief was
suddenly turned to grief.
Shortly after he left the park an
electric car, which had been filled
with passengers at that point, started
toward Lenox, we'll behind the pro
cession. 1t passed all Of the teams
and was about mile and a half out
from the city at the beginning of
Howard Hill and was nearly up to the
presidents carriage, which was trav'
cling on the west side of the high
way.
Trolley Car Approached.
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
leaders to cross the tracks. On each
side of the chief executives carriage
rode two mounted troopers OF the
local cavalry company and the horse
men on the left of the landau had
turned on to the track with the troll
ley car Immediately behind them
though some yards distant.
1t crashed into the carriage as
loud moan went up from the frenzied
cnlookers, who thronged the roadside.
ard who but a moment before were
cheering the president. The horse
nan managed to get the frightened
animals out of the way just in time
and the car struck the rear wheel OF
the carriage on the left side am
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
ore horse fell dead on the tracks. The
.: her three powerful grays attached
80 the vehicle started to run, and
ragged b. them and pushed by the
fjrce CT tie car. the wrecked CO.
was moved 20 or 40 feet.
Fell Under Car.
Agent Craig fell from his seat -
lrediately in front rthe car and it
passed completely over his body.
)-iver Pratt, in falling. struck the
dead horse Immediately in front ot
aim and relied off clear CT the car.
thus escaping a similar fate. Pres''
Uent Roosevelt Governor Crane and
Secretary Cortelyou were thrown to
gether in the bottom Of their car
rage.
Almost instantly a score Of mea
jumped to tie heads Of the frightened
horses and stopped their further
progress.
TIE presidents lip was cut 'and
blood was flowing from the wounu
His clothing was much deranged and
ne was severely shaken up. Secre
tary Cortelyou had a wound in the
back Of his head, from which blood
aas flowing freely.
Driver Pratt was found unconscious
in the road, his shoulder was dislo-
Gated, his ankle sprained and his
fece badly cut and bruised.