Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-04
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
IN TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
His Coach Was Struck by an Electric
Car This Morning, But He Was
Not Seriously Injured.
A SECRET SERVICE MAN KILLED
The Coach Driver Sustained a
Fractured Skull.
CORTELYOU SCRATCHED AND BRUISED

Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
Lenox, Mass, Sept. "a terrible acct
dent overlook the Presidents coach a short
distance from Pittsfeld this morning. After
n short visit 10 the home of former senator
Dawes, the President started on the long
drive to Lenox. He had not gone far when
I'M electric car struck the coach, throwing
its occupants to the ground and badly dari:.
aging the carriage. Tho President received
n cut on the head. Gov. Crane was bruised
and William Craig. a. Secret Service man,
WINS instantly killed. The President was able
10 resume his Journey to Lenpx, but sent
word ahead that there should be no cheering.
After leaving Mr.. Dawes house, thu four
carriages containing the President and his
immediate party we're driven down south
street two carriage on either side. When
near the Country Club and at the railroad
crossing, an electric car WINS noticed coniDg
at q terrific rate of speed. MIR. Craig sig
nailed to the motorman to STOP, but he APP
parently paid no attention TO the warming.
and the car came plnnging on iis work OF
DEATH The Presidents carriage was literally
smashed to pieces. witness of the acci-
dent said the nlotorman WIS speeding tbs
car in order to reach the club. The Presi-
dent, Gov. Crane and Secretary Corteiyou
were piled up in a heap. The awelstricken
crowd which witnessed the accident rushed
to the Presidents carriage, but with no ex-
pectation that he would be found alive. The
President was cut on the right side Of the
chin. and his fnce is much swollen. Secret
Service Agent William Craig was killed cut
right, and d. j. Pratt, the driver OF the
coach, sustained a fractured skull, whion,
| IL is feared will result fatally, ~
The coach. which was q regulation lly-ho,
was struck by car on the Pitteheld -
Ienoy street railway about $50 o'clock. The
accident happened ut point about mile
and half from town, near the iPittsfield
| Country Club, while the President and his
party were enjoying coaching trip from
| Dalton, Gov. Cranes home, where the Rresi :.
| dent spent the night, to Ienox, a distance OF
! about 70 miles over the Berkshire hills. The
car WA In charge of Conductor James Kelly,
| with Motorman Luke j. Madden on the
| front platform. The car struck the coach
! in the rear, and smashed in the. back Of the
| yahicle tipping IL over and throwing its
| occupants to the ground. The car was not
| badly damaged. Motorman Madden and
1 Conductor Kelly were at once arrested and
4 taken TO Pittsield. Pratt. the driver Of the
4 coach, was also taken there and. placed in
4 tae PittsHeld Hospital. Tho President who
sustained only slight bruises and a few
4 scratches, Secretary Cortelyou, who suffered
/ In a manner similar to that of the Presi-
/ dent, with the exception that he was cut on
\ the head, and the other members Of the
II party went to the Country Club. where thefi
\ wounds we're dressed. In short time they
4 proceeded to the Curtis Hotel. at Lenox,l ar
irving here at II O'Clock. The President
1 licitous for the rest of those in the carriage.
The excitement was intense. and runors
few thick and fast that the President had
been killed.
4 After remaining at the scene Of the accl-
dent for an hour, the President determined
to continue his journey TO Stockbridge.
After brief stop at Lenox. he was driven
to the train.
i In the carriage next to the President's
when the accident happened was DR.. G. 4.
Lung of the navy, who accompanied the
President for just such emergencies as this,
and who was promptly on hand to rendss
assistance to the President; but the PresiH
dent was disipclined TO receive medical at
tention, saying ne was only slightly hurt.
The Presidents programme today in
cluded n Journey from this state through
Connecticut, and he was to stop Mt LenoS,
Stockbridge and Great Darlington, in
Massachusetts, and at New Milford and
Bridgeport, in Connecticut. At Bridgeport
the yacht Sylph was 10 met him and take
him back 10 Oyster Bay. The accident, how
ever, probably will CAUSE change IN the
intermediate stops from Lenox TO Bridge
port the President li-oceGding directly there
and at once embarking on the Sylph fol-
Oyster Bay.