The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-09-11
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S
NARROW ESCAPE.
HIS CARRIAGE DEMOLISHED
BY A TROLLEY CAR.
A Secret Service Agent Killed
and Driver Seriously injured
The President Slightly Hurt.


The President Slightly Hurt
Tho carriage in which Presidon,
Roosevelt and his party were beins
driven from Pittsiield TO Lonox, Mass.
was struck by an electric car and al.
most completely demolished. The
President was slightly cut and bruised
Secretary CorLelyou also injured, VIM.
Craig, of tho secret service, was killed,
ard the driver of the coach seriously
hurt. The following account was
given by the Associated Press the
morning after the occurrence
Tho President of the United States
escaped tragic death by only few
feet in collision between his carriage
and All electric car in this city, while
ono OF his most trusted guards, Secret
Service Agent VIM. Craig, was in
stantly killed, and David j. Pratt, of
Dalton, who was guiding tho horsos
attached to the vehicle, was seriously
injured. President Roosevelt himself
was badly shakon up, but received
only slight facial bruise.
Secretary Cortelyou, who occupied a
scat opposite the chief executive in tho
landau, sustained a minor wound in
tho back Of tho head and Gov. Crane,
who sat beside the President, eXtri-
Gated himself from the wreck practi-
cally without 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 passen.
gers of the car escaping injury.
Tho President and party were driv-
ing from this city to Lenox through
one of the principal thoroughfares of
PittsGeld, which was lined with cheer
ing people and tho catastrophe oc-
Cured in PLAIN view of hundreds,
whose happiness at the advent Of the
nations chief was suddenly turned to
grief.
Thousands had poured into the city
IN the carly morning from the nearby
country to 500 and hear the President,
and his address at the city park had
been loudly cheered. At the conclu-
sion of tho exercises he wished to make
brief call OH Henry l.. Dawes, for
morly United States Senator, whose
house Is but short distance from the
park. The Presidents carriage, in
which he had ridden from Gov.
Crano's homo at Dalton, was accord
ingly driven to tho Dawes residence
and carriages containing a number of
other gentlemen in the party followed.
President Roosevolt's call was short
one and then tho carriages returned to
the city square.
After few moments delay the jour-
ney toward Lenox was begun. Mean
while the mounted escort of police otli-
Gers and tho 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 othel open carriages
fell in line Immediately behind tho
landau in which the President rode
with Secretary Cortelyou and Gov.
Crane. Secret Service Agent Craig,
who throughout the New England tour
has been almost constantly at tho
Presidents elbow, was on the drivers
box beside Coachman Pratt.
Out through South street is broad,
smooth highway. The tracks of the
Pittsfield electric street railway are
laid in tho contre Of the road with am
pie room for teams on each side, and
scores of vehicles Of every description
followed along this road behind the
Presidents party.
Shortly after he left the park an
electric car which had been filled with
passengers at; that point, started to-
ward Lenox we'll behind the process
sion. It passed all of the teams and
was about mile and half out from
Che city at the beginning Of Howard
hill and was nearly up to the Presi.
dents carriage, which was travelling on
the west side of the highway.
just at the foot of Howard hill the
road bends little and teams arc COM
PEELED to cross the street railway
tracks to the east side. The railroad
then continues at one side of the stree
instead Of in the centre. Just at this
point the upgrade of the hill begins
and but short distance beyond thu
crossing there is narrow bridge span
nlng a small brook.
The trolley car approached the road
crossing under good head Of speet
with gong changing just as the driver 0
Presidents carriage turned his leader
to cross the tracks. On each side O
the chief executives carriage rode tw
mounted troopers. of the local cavalr
company, and the horsemen on the lef
of the landau had turned on the tract
with the trolley car immediately be
hind them, though some yards distant
Alarmed by the changing gong, the
both turned in their saddles and wave
vigorously to the. m6torman to sto
his car. Almost at the same instar
Gov. Crano, who. quickly perceived tn
danger, rose to his feet and likewis
motioned to the motorman. The la
ter in great excitement desperatel
tried to stop his car, but 1t was tc
late. 1t crashed into the carriage ju
aa loud moan went up from tho frei
zied 0nlookers who throngod the roa
side, and who but o moment befo
were cheering the President.
iNyrhe horsemen managed to get Il
frightened animals out of the way ju