Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-09-06
HAD NARROW ESCAPE
President Roosevelt's Coach Was
Wrecked by an Electric Car.
chief Executive Only Slightly Bruised But
q Secret Service Detective Was KiiIed
and the Driver Seriously
=. Injured

Lenox, Mass, Sept. "a terrible
accident overlook the presidents
coach a short distance from Pitts
field at ten o'clock yesterday morn
ing. After a short visit to the home
of ex-senator Dawes, the president
started on the long drive to LenOx.
He had not gone far when an electric
car ran into his vehicle, throwing
everyone to the ground and badly
damaging the coach. The president
received cut on the head, Gov. Crane
was bruised and William Craig, the
secret service man, was instantly
killed. The president was able to
resume his journey to Lenox, but
sent word ahead that there should be
no cheering.
After leaving Senator Dawes house
the four carriages containing the
president and his immediate party
were driven down South street, two
carriages 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.
Mr.. Craig signaled to the motorman
to stop but he apparently paid no
attention to the warning and the
car came plunging on in it's work of
death. A witness of the accident
stated that the motorman was speed
ing his car in order to reach the club.
The president, Gov. Crane and Sec
rotary CorteIyou were piled up in a
heap. The awe-stricl1en crowd which
witnessed the accident rushed to the
presidents carriage with no eXpec-
tation that he would be found alive.
The president was cut on the right
side of his chin and his face is much
swollen.
Secret Service Agent William Craig
was killed outright and d. j. Pratt,
the driver of the coach, sustained a
fracture of the skull which it is
feared will result fatally. The acct
dent happened at point about mile
and a half from this city near the
Pittsfield Country clubhouse. The
president was enjoying a coaching
trip from Dalton, Gov. Cranes home,
to LenoX, a distance of 20 miles
over the Berkshire hills. The car
was in charge of Conductor james
Kelly, with Motorman Luke j. Mad
den on the front platform. The car
smashed in the back of the vehicle,
tipping it over and throwing its Oc-
cupants to the ground. The car was
not badly damaged. MotOrman Mad
den and Conductor Kelly were at once
arrested and brought to Pittsficld.
Pratt, the driver of the coach, was
brought here also, and placed in the
Pittsfield hospital.
William Craig, the secret service
operator who was killed, was As
years old, weighed over 200 pounds
and was more than six feet tall. He
was a former member of the Queens
Grenadiers and was an expert broad
swordsman. Years ago ne gave eX-
hibitiOns with Duncan Ross and was
credited with many victories over
him. Craig caught and arrested a
crank at Montpelier who was at
tempting to reach the president on
his trip.
Back to Oyster Bay.
Oyster Bay, Sept. president
Roosevelt returned at $3.50 last night
but little the worse for his thrilling
experience yesterday morning. His
right cheek is swollen, there is
black bruise under his right eye and
his mouth is slightly swollen. Other
wise he shows no effects of the ac-
cident. He will go south the latter
part of the week, according to the
original schedule, and will be ac-
compapied by Secretary Cortelyou,
who, while considerably shaken up,
expects that his injuries will not
incapacitate him from duty