Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-09-05
RoosEvELT's MARROW ESCAPE
a Trolley Car Demolished his Car.
rage at Pittsfield, Mass, and Killed
M of its Occupants.

President Roosevelt had a very narrow
escape from instant death a few minutes
after 10 O'Clock Wednesday morning. the
last day of his New England tour. while
en- route by carriage from Pittsfeld to
Lenox. Mass.
The presidential party left Pittsield for
the drive across country soon after Q
o'clock. There were six carriages in line
The Presidents carriage. an open landau
drawn by four horses, was in the lead.
In the carriage with the President were
Gov. Crane of Massachusetts. Secretary
cortelyou. and Gov. Cranes private sec.
retary. ID. j. Pratt, a liveryman of Dali
ton, who owned the rig, was driving. By
his side sat William Craig. the secret
service man who has been Mr.. Roose-
VeIts constant attendant ever since he
became President. The accident occurred
at a point about two miles from Pitts
neld, where the road is narrow and
makes a little dip down one incline and
up another. The trolley car track crosses
from one side of the highway to the other
a, tnls point Not far beyond is the
club house of the Country club.
As the driver was attempting to cross
the car track, an electric car. going in
the same direction. heavily loaded with
passengers. crashed into the Presidents
carriage, demolishing it. throwing Detec-
i've craig under the wheels. of the car
and killing him instantly. iniuring the
driver, Pratt. seriously. though not IA
tany, and killing one of the horses. The
car struck the near horse and the near
front wheel of the carriage. The entire
running gear was demolished. and the
pody OF the carriage badly broken. The
occupants of the carriage were not thrown
out. but the Presidents nose and lip
were cut, and his face struck the side
or the door. raising a large lump. Score
tary Cortelyou received similar injuries.
Gov. Crane and his secretary. who were
on the opposite side of the carriage. es-
capped without injury. The shock when
the car struck the carriage was terrific,
ana the wreck was forced along several
feet. People who happened to be near
supposed at first that the President must
nave been killed. and Were surprised
when he emerged from the wreck with
."e oiher occupants of the carriage and
declared himself not seriously hurt.
His first thought was to reassure the
American people that he was safe. and
ms next Tor the man Craig. to whom he
was greatly attached. After being as
sured that the body would be properly
cared for. the President went into a near
py mousse where he n Secretary Cor
telyou washed the blood from their faces.
and in course of an hour the party re-
stunned their journey. Word was sent
ahead by the President asking that there
De no cheering or applause on his ap-
pearance.
The motorman and conductor of the car
We're arrested and put in jail on a charge
of manslaughter. The reports vary as TO
the responsibility for the accident. one
eyewitness claiming that the accident
was due to the action OF Craig. the de-
tectVe, In seizing the reins from the
drivers hands In a sudden fright and
refining the horses across the car track,
The accounts agree, however, tina the
electric car was going at a high rate of
speed, its occupants wishing to reach the
country club before the arrival of the
President there. Thu driver and the oc-
cupants of the Presidents carriage ex-
pected the car to stop during their pas
sage, as all other cars had done.
The Presidents itinerary for the day
included visits to Lenox and Stockbridge,
ana a journey by rail to Bridgeport,
conn, where the President was TO take
a boat for his home at Oyster Bay. The
Itinerary was carried out. but there were
no speeches on the way, as a been
planned. The President reached his
home, declaring himself in good condition,
ana attending to the executive business
which had accumulated during his alb
sence. He declares his intention to fulfil
rem, next Monday to attend the annual
convention of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Ffremen.
William Craig, the victim of this acct
dent, was a native of Scotland, and had
seen service in the British army. He
came to this country 10 or 10 years ago,
living first in Chicago and afterward in
Springfield and Holyoke, Mass. He has
two brothers living in the latter city. He
is undoubtedly the man who rode on the
drivers box at the time of the Presidents
Visit 10 Brattleboro on Monday.