Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-04

i
The President of the United States es-
capped a tragic death by only a. few fee,
by a collision between his coach and an
electric street car in this city to-day.
while one of his most trusted guards,
Secret Agent William Craig, was instant
~ killed and David J. Pratt, of Dalton,
who was guiding the horses. attached to
the vehicle, was seriously injured.
President Roosevelt himself was badly
shaken up, but received only slight
facial bruise. Secretary Cortelyou, who
occupied a seat opposite the Chief Execu-
tive in the landau, sustained minor
wound in the back Of the head and Gov
ernor Crane, who sat beside the Pres1-
dent. extricated himself from the wreck
practically without scratch.
The carriage was demolished by the I'M
pact of the rapidly moving car, and the
wheel horse on the side nearest the car,
was killed outright The crew and pas
sengers of the car escaped injury.
The President and party were driving
from this city to Lonox through South
street. one of the principal thoroughfares
of Pittsfleld, which was lined with cheer.
ing people. and the catastrophe occurred
in plain view of hundreds whose happi-
ness at the advent Of the nations Chief,
was suddenly turned to- grief.
President Had Made Speech.
Thousands had poured into the city in:
| the early morning from the nearby coun-
| try to see and hear the President, and
| his address at the City Park had been
! loudly cheered AT the conclusion of the
| exercises he wished to make brlet can
| on former United States Senator Henry
| A Dawes. whose house on Elm streer
is but a short distance from the park
The Presidents carriage, in which he had
ridden from Governor Cranes home IN
Dalton, was accordingly driven to the
Dawes residence and carriages containing
a number of other gentlemen in the2partS
followed. President Roosevelt,s call was
a brief one and carriages returned to
the city square.
How the Accident Occurred.
After a few moments delay the journey
toward Lenox was begun Meanwhile the
mounted escort Of police officers and the
carriages containing the newspaper cor
respondents who have accompanied him
IN his tour, had started off ahead on the
road to Lenox and were some distance IN
advance of the Presidents equipage.
Three or four other open carriages fell
in line Immediately behind the landau In
which the President rode with Secretary
Cortelyou and Governor Crane.
Secret Service Agent Craig, who
throughout the New England tour had
been almost constantly at the Presidents
f1,o 1ri1y 1oNv he's
Goa achnan Pratt. Out through South
street is a broad smooth highway. The
ira cks of the Pittsfield electric street
railway are laid in the centre of the road
with ample room for teams on each
side and scores of vehicles of every de-
scription followed along this road behino
the Presidents party.
The Deadly Gar Appears.
Shortly after he left the park an cleo
tric car which had been filled with pas
sengers at that point, started toward
LenoS. well behind the procession It
pa ssed all of the teams, and was about
q mile and a half out from the city at
the beginning OF Howard Hill, and was
nearly up to the Presidents carriage,
which was travelling on the west slde
of the highway. Just at the foot OF How
ard Hill the road bends little, ana
teams are compelled to cross the street
railway tracks to the east SIDE. The rail-
way then continues on one side OF the
street instead Of in the centre. Just at
this point the upgrade begins, and put
a short distance beyond the crossing
there is a narrow bridge spanning small
brook.
Warnings Sounded in Vain.
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 ms
leaders to cross the tracks. On each SIDE
of the Chief Executives carriage rode
two mounted troopers of the local cav
airy company, and the horsemen on the
left of the landau had turned on the track
with the trolley car Immediately behind
them though some yards distant.
Alarmed by the changing gong, they
both turned in their saddles and waved
vigorously to the motorman to stop his
car
Almost at the same instant Governor
Crane, who quickly perceived the danger,
rose to his feet and likewise motioned
to the motorman. The -ter. in great
excitement. desperately tried to stop his
car but it was too late It crashed into
the carriage just as loud moan went
up from the frenzied onlookers who
thronsed the roadside. and who but
moment before were cheering the Presi-
dent
The Car PIouEhed Through.
The horsemen managed to get the
frightened animals out of the way just
a., ti,,,a and the car struck the rear