Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-04
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
ANU TEN <SSOoNi.
Mr.. Craig Died While BraveIy Trying to
Protect President.

n night passed at Gov. Cranes beauti-
full home in Dalton. the President and
his party took a drive over the hills TO
Lenox. The weather was perfect, the
bright sunlight bathing the landscape
and a light early autumn breeze tenn
pering the heat.
The President made brief speech at
Dalton, before leaving there shortly be-
fore o'clock and was coming to this
city where he had planned to stop for
a short time on his way to Lenox. He
was constantly greeted by groups OF
citizens, who We're most cordial in
their demands. In this city the Presi-
dent spoke briefly, and then the tour
of the Berkshires was resumed.
President Roosevelts landau drawn
by four horses, as usual took the lead.
D. ]. Pratt of Dalton was in the
drivers seat. Beside him was Secret
Service Agent Craig. President Roose-
welt was in the right hand seat at the
rear. and Gov. Crane, his host, sat be-
| side him. Secretary Cortelyou was by
| himself on the seat in front of tie
President and the Governor
| The road out of Pittsfield over which
the party was to pass ran by the City
rark, and passed the Country Club.
| then out into the suburbs where there
are many fine estates occupied by
wealthy summer residents, who nave
made the Berkshire county famous.
After having spoken from the stand
| which had been erected in the park
near the soldiers monument. the Presi-
dent returned to his carriage with Gov.
| Crane and Secretary Cortelyou and re-
| qlested that he be driven to the home
Of former Senator Fl. l.. Dawes, Oh Ei!1
street. Mr. Dawes lives not far from
| the square, and the President was
| quickly taken there. He remained
about five minutes going into the house
Of the former senator for q brief chat.
Then he was driven back to the park
| and the start for Lenox was made.
| One or two of the carriag es including
| those in which the newspa permen We're
| riding had gone on ahead. As the
| Presidents carriage and those contain
| ing the others of his party made their
| way along South street, which Skin IS
| the common. the crowds who lined tie
pavements cheered repeatedly and the
ovation which had begun at Dalton and
had hardly been interrupted since the
start was made, was continued.
| Along South street, which is not i
| wide highway. run the tracks of the
| Pittsfeld & Lenox Street Railway Co
Occasionally an electric hummed by
the carriages. At a point about
quarter of a mile from the center Of
| the city the street bends, and the car
tracks running in a straight line cut
| across it from one side to the other
| AS the Presidents carriage approached
| this crossing, an electric car was heard
coming along at great speed. APP
parently trying to pass ahead of the
| procession.
| Secret Service Officer Craig appre-
ciated the danger and he rose beside
the driver and turning around signalled
| the motorman to hold back.
| The warning was disregarded and the
next instant, in view of hundreds of
people, the electric car crashed diagon
ally against the carriage, causing the
wheels to collapse splintering the side
and running down the near horse kill
ing it instantly.
| The occupants Of the carriage We're
thrown into the midst of the wreckage.
Secret Service Agent Craig fell under
the car and his head was cracked uron
and the upper part of his body badly
mangled. The driver. Pratt. also was
| caught as he fell and was injured
mainly about the head, Il fractured
skull being his principal woun6.
Tho President, although partially
buried by the spintered fragments of
| the carriage extricated himself, ana he
was seen to have sustained only a cut
on the check. Gov. Crane was not in
jured. Secretary Cortelyou was not SO
| fortunate, having sustained blow on
| the back of the head but he soon re-
| covered aud with the President and
| Gov. Crane went to the house of A. -.
| Stevens. which is near where the ac-
cident occurred and which was thrown
open for the reception of the victims of
| the accident.
| The secret service agent was beyond
the need of help, having been instantly
'-'l@d. The body was taken into the
Stevens house. 1t was found that
/ Driver Pratt was unconscious but not
dead and he was taken to the house.
and in a few moments. an ambulance
from the PiItsfeld hospital arrived and
he was taken to that institution.
/ The crowd became greatly excited
/ and pouring into the street surrounded
| the wrecked carriage and the car,
| shouting at the motorman and conduc-
| tor and creating great disturbance.
| Almost Immediately persons began
| snatching away the fragments of TIE
! coach in which the President had rid
1 den. Only by utmost efforts did
! force of police which had been quickly
| summoned. prevent the entire demoii-
j ton of the vehicle by souvenir hunters
| Immediately after the accident, the
motorman. Luke j. Madden, and the
| conductor. James Kelley, were placed
| under arrest and taken to police head
| quarters. the crowd giving them a
stormy reception as they passed along
the street
Meanwhile Medical Examiner Colt
| had arrived and finding that the body
| of Mr.. Craig was at the Stevens house.
| proceeded there to perform his duty
! President Roosevelt himself was at
tending to the mangled body of his
guard. The medical examiner found
that no extended examination would be
necessary and an undertaken was
called who removed the body to his
rooms in this city.
Mr.. Craig has two brothers living at