The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-09-04
Electric Car Travelling at High Rate of Speed
Smashes Presidents Carriage
Cared for Others First.
Mshap Occurred Near Pttsfed, Observation-Disclosures
Service Agent Craig Instantly Kiled-chief Ex-
ecutive Badly Bruised About Read-Car
Crew Placed Under Arrest

pIrTsFIELD, Mass. sept s.-The
President Of the United States escaped
tragic death by only few feet In
collision between his carriage and an
electric street car In this city today,
while one Of his most trusted guards
Secret Service Agent william Craig,
was instantly killed and David j.
Pratt OF Dalton. who was Euiding the
horses attached TO the vehicle. was
most seriously injured. President
Roosevelt himself was badly shaken up
but received only slight facial brulse.
Secretary cortelyou, who occupied
the sea, directly opposite the president
in the carriage. sustained a minor
wound In the back OF the head. and
Governor Crane. who sat beside the
president, escaped 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. The crew and pas
sengers Of the car escaped injury,
The president and party were driv-
ing from this city 10 Lenox through
South street. one OF the principal
thoroughfarcs OF Pittsheld, which was
lined with cheering people, and the
catastrophe happened In plain view Of
hundreds whose happiness at the ad-
vent OF the Nations chief was sud
denly turned to grief.
Thousands had poured into the city
in the early morning from the coun-
try TO see and hear the president. and
his address at City Park had been
loudly eheered. Al the conclusion OF
the exercises he wished TO make
brief cali on ex-senator Dawes, whoAe
house in Elm street is but a short dis
tance from the park, The presidents
carriage on which he had ridden from
Governor Cranes heme at Dalton was
accordingly driven 10 the Dawes resi-
dcnce, and the carriages containing a
number OF other gentlemen in the
party followed. President Roosevelt's
call was short one and then the car
riage returned TO the city square, Aft
er a few minutes delay the journey
10 Lenox was begun. Meanwhile
mounted escort Of police officers and
carriages carrying newspaper corre-
spondents who have accompanied the
president ON his tour. had started
off ahead on the road TO LenoX and
were some distance in advance OF the
presidents equipage. Three or four
other open carriages fell In rlne i'm
mediately behind the landau in
which the president rode with Secre-
tary Cortelyou and Governor Crane.
Secret Service Agent Craig, who
throughout the New England trip has
been almost constantly at the Presl-
dents elbow. was on the drivers box
beside Coachman Pratt. The tracks
of the Pittsfield Electric Street Rail-
way Company are laid in the ces Ger
Of the road with ample room for teams
on each side. and scores of vehicles
OF every description followed along the
road behind the presidents party.
shortly after he left, Park electric
car, which had been filled with pas
sengers, started toward Lenox well
behind the procession, 1t passed all
and was about mile and a half out
Of the city at the beginning OF How
ard Hill and was nearly up to the
presidents carriage, which was trav-
cling on the west side Of the high
wav.
Just at the foot OF Howard Hill, the
road bends a little and teams ars corl-
pelled to cross the street railway
tracks to the east side, The railroad
then continues alongside Of the street
instead of in the center. Just at this
point the up grade of the hill keglns
and but short distance beyond the
crossing there is a narrow bridge
spanning a small brook. The trolley
car approached the road crossing un-
der a good head Of speed, with the
gong changing, just as the driver of
the presidents carriage turned his
leaders to cross the tracks.
On each side Of the executives car
riage road two mounted troopers Of
the local cavalry company and horse
men on the left of ,he landau had
turned on, to the track with the troll
ley car Immediately behind them.
by the changing Of the gong !