The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-04

Pittsfield. Mass. Sept. 3.-The Presi-
tragic death by only few feet in
collision between his carriage and an
electric street car in this city to-day,
while one of his most trusted guards,
Secret Service Agent William Craig,
was instantly killed, and David j.
Pratt of Dalton, who was driving the
horses attached to the vehicle, was
seriously injured.
President Roosevelt himself was
badly shaken up, but received only
slight facial bruise. Secretary Cortel-
you, who occupied a seat directly OPP
posite the chief executive in the Ian
dau, sustained a minor wound In the
back of the head, and Gov. Crane, who
sat beside the President, extricated
himself from the wreck practically
without a scratch.
The carriage was demolished by the
impact of the rapidly moving car, and
the wheel horse on the side nearest the
car was killed outright. The crew and
passengers of the car escaped injury.
Through Cheering Crowds.
The President and party were driv-
ing from this city to Lenox through
south street, one of the principal thor
oughfares of Pittsfield, which was lin
ed with cheering people, and the catas-
trophe occurred in plain view of hun
dreds, whose happiness at the advent
of the nations CHIEF was suddenly
turned to grief.
Thousands had poured into the city
in the early morning from the near
by country to see and hear the Prest-
dent, and his address at the Cfty-Park
had been loudly cheered. AT the con-
clusion of the exercises he wished to
make a brief call on ex-United States
Senator Henry l.. Dawes, whose house,
in Elm street, is but a short distance
from the park. The Presidents car
riage, in which he had ridden in from
Gov. Cranes home at Dalton, was ac-
cordingly driven to the Dawes resi-
dence, and carriages containing
number of others in the party followed.
President Roosevelts call was short
one. and then the carriages returned
to the city square.
Drove Along Car Tracks.
After few minutes delay, the jour
ney toward Lenox was begun. Mean
while the mounted escort of police Of
fcers and the carriages containing the
newspaper correspondents, who have
accompanied the President on his tour,
had started off ahead on the road to
Lenox and were some distance in adj
vance 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 Gov.
Crane. Secret Service Agent Craig,
VINO, throughout the New England
tour, has been almost constantly at
the Presidents elbow. was on the driv-
er's box, beside Coachman Pratt
out through South street is broad,
smooth highway. The tracks of the
Pittsfield Electric Street Railway are
laid in the center of the road with
ample room for teams on each side.
and scores of vehicles of every descrip-
ton followed along this road behind the
PRESIDENTS party. Shortly after he
LETT the park an electric car. which had
peen nlled with passengers at that
point, started toward Lenox we'll be-
nlnd the procession. 1t passed all of
the teams and was about a mile and
q half out from the city at the begin
ming of Howard Hill, and was nearly
up TO the Presidents carriage, which
was travelling on the west side of the
highway.
Made Fatal Turn.
Just at the foot of Howard HILL the
road bends a little, and teams are COM
PEELED to cross the street railway
tracks to the east side. The railroad
tnen continues at one side of the street
Hstead of in the center. Just at this
point the up grade of the hill begins
ana but short distance beyond the
crossing there is narrow bridge
spanning a small brook
Inc trolley car approa ched the road,
cfossing under a good head of speed,
win gong changing, just as the driver
OF the Presidents carriage turned his
readers to cross the tracks On each
SIDE OF the chief executives carriage
rode two mounted troopers of the local
cavalry company, and the horsemen on
the left Of the landau had turned on
the track with the trolley car imme-
olately behind them, though some
yards distant.
Tried to stop the Car.
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 Gov
crane, who quickly perceived the dam
ger, rose TO his feet and likewise mo-
TONED 10 the motorman. The latter in
great excitement desperately tried to
stop hts car. but Il was Ntoo late II
crashed into the carriage just as a loud
moan went up from the frenzied on
lockers, who thronged the roadside,
ana who but moment before were
cheering.
The horsemen managed 20 get their
frightened animals out Of the way just
In time. and the car struck the rear
wheel Of the carriage on the left side
and plouEhed through 10 the front
wheel OF the vehicle. which received
TIE full force OF the blow.