Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-09-04

the four carriages containing the pres
sdent and his immediate party were
driven down South street, two car
riages on either side. When near
the Country club and at the railroad
crossing, an electric car was noticed
coming at a terrific rate of speed. NJ.
Craig signalled to the motorman to
stop, but he apparently paid no atten
ton to the warning and the car came
plunging on in its work of death.
The presidents carriage was liter
ally smashed to pieces A witness
of the accident states that the motor
man was speeding his car in order to
reach the club The president Gov
ernor Crane and Secretary Cortelyou
were piled up in a heap. The awe
stricken crowd which witnessed the
accident rushed to the presidents car
riage, but met with no expectation that
he would he found alive.
The president was cut on the right
side of his chin and his face Is much
swollen.
Craig Killed Outright.
Secret Service Agent William Craig
was killed outright, and D. J. Pratt,
the driver of the coach, sustained a
fracture of the skull, which is feared
will result fatally. The coach was a
regulation tallyho vehicle.
The accident happened at a point
about a mile and half from this city,
near the Pittsfield Country clubhouse,
while the president and his party were
enjoying a coaching trip from Dalton,
Governor Cranes home, where the
president spent the night to Lenox,
distance of about 20 miles over the
Berkshire hills. The car was IL
charge of Conductor James Kelly, with
Motorman Luke j Madden on the
front platform. The car struck the
coach in the rear and smashed in the
back of the vehicle, tipping it over
and throwing its occupants to the
ground. The car was not badly dam
aged.
Motorman and Conductor Arrested.
Motorman Madden and the conduc-
tor were at once arrested and brought
to Pittsfield. Pratt, the driver of the
coach. also was brought here and
placed in the Pittsheld hospital. The
president, who, in falling from the
coach sustained only slight bruises
and few scratches, and Secretary
George B Cortelyou, who suffered in
a manner similar to that Of the presi.
dent, with the exception that he was
cut on the head, with the other nom
bers of the party went to the club
house near by where their wounds
were dressed. In short time they
proceeded to the Curtis hotel at Len.
OK, arriving there at II o'clock. The
president retained his usual compos
ure. but he was solicitous for the rest
of those in the carriage.
Excitement Was Intense.
The excitement was intense and ru-
mors few thick and fast that the
president had been killed. After re-
naming at the scene Of the accident
for an hour the president determined
to continue his journey to Stockbridge,
After a brief stop at Lenox he was
driven to the train In the next car
rage to the president when the acci.
dent happened was DR.. G. A. Lung,
of the navy, who accompanied the
president for just such emergencies
as this, and was promptly on hand to
render assistance But the president
was disinclined to receive medical at.
tention, saying he was but slightly
hurt The previous program of the
day included journey from this
state through Connecticut, and the
president was to stop at Lenox and
stockbridge and Great harrington In
Massachusetts and New Bedford and
Bridgeport, Conn. At Bridgeport the
yacht Sylph was to meet him and
take him back to Oyster Bay. The
accident, however, probably will
change any intermediate stops from
Lenox to Bridgeport, the president
proceeding directly there and embark
ing on the Sylph for Oyster Bay.
Another Account of Accident.
Another account Of the accident says
the trolley car was coming up behind
the presidents carriage at terrific
| speed The carriage was struck as
It was crossing the tracks diagonaly.
Craig. who was lookng around and
half standing, trying to warn the troll.
ley car back was knocked from the