The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-04
Mr.. Roosevelt Was Violently
Thrown to the Ground.
WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY INJURED
The Driver Of the Vehicle Receives Sc
rious and Possibly Fatal Injuries.
Secretary CorteIyou Slightly
Hurt-Governor Crane Was
Eruised-M otorman and
Conductor Arrested
CBy Associated Press.)

(EV Associated PreSS.)
PITTSFIELD MASS, September s.
The President of the United States es-
capped a tragic death by only a. few feet
in d collision between his coach 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 ]. Pratt, of
Dalton. who was guiding the horses at
tached TO the vehicle. was seriously in
5ured President Roosevelt himself was
badly shaken UP, but received only a
slight facial bruise. Secretary Cortelyou.
who occupied a. seat opposite the Chief
Executive in the landau. sustained a
minor wound in the back Of the head,
and Governor Crane, who sat beside the
President, extricated himself from the
wreck practically without a scratch.
The carriage was demolished by the i'm
pact of the rapidly moving car, and the
wheel horse on the side nearest the car
was killed outright. The crew and pas
sengerS of the car escaped injury.
The President and party We're driving
from this city to Lenox through South
Street, one Of the principal thoroughfares
of tittsfleld, which was lined with cheer
ing people, and the catastrophe occurred
ness at the advent of the nations chief
was suddenly turned TO grief. Thousands
had poured into the city in the early
morning from the nearby country tc see
Rnd hear the President. and his address
at the city park had been loudly cheered.
At the conclusion of the exercises he
wished to make a brief call on former
United States Senator Henry A. Dawes,
whose house in Elm Street is but a short
distance from the park The Presidents
carriage in which he had ridden from
Governor Cranes home, in Dalton, was
accordingly driven to the Dawes resi-
tence and carriages containing a number
Of other gentlemen in the party followed
President Roosevelt's call was short
one, and then the carriages returned TO
the city square.
JOURNEY BEGAN
After few moments delay the jour
ney toward Lenox was begun. Mean
while the escort OF mounted police Off
GERS and the carriages containing the
newspaper correspondents. who have ac-
companied the President on his tour.
had started off ahead on the road to
Lenox and We're some distance in ad-
vance of the Presidents eguipaee. Three
or four other open carriages fell in line
Immediately behind the landau in which
the President rode with Secretary Cor
vice Agent Craig, who, throughout the
New England tour had been almost con-
stantly at the Presidents elbow. was
on the drivers box beside Coachman
Pratt Out through South Street is a
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 description followed
along this road behind the Presidents
party.
Shortly after he left the park an cleo
tric car. which had been filled with pas
sengers at that point, started toward
Lenox, well behind the procession. 1t
passed all Of the teams and was about
a mile and a half out from the city al
the beginning Of Howard Hill and was
nearly up to the Presidents carriage.
which was travelling on the west side of
the highway. Just at the foot Of How
ard Hill, the road bends a little and
teams are compelled to cross the street
railway tracks TO the east side. The rail-
way then continues on one side of the
street instead Of in the center. Just at
this point the upgrade of the Hill begins
snd but short distance beyond the
crossing there is a narrow bridge span
ming a small brook.
THE COLLISION.
Ths trolley car approached the road
crossing under a good head Of speed
with gong changing just as the driver
of the Presidents carriage turned his
leaders TO cross the tracks. On each side
of the Chief Executives carriage rode
two mounted troopers Of the local cav
airy company, and the horsemen on the
left of the landau had turned on the
track with the trolley car Immediately
behind them. though some yards distant
Alarmed by the changing gong. they both
turned in their saddles and waved Wig
orously TO the motorman to stop his
car Almost at the same instant Gov
ernor Crane, who quickly perceived the
danger rose TO his feet and likewise mo-
,ioned 10 the motorman. The latter in
great excitement desperately tried to
ston his car but it was too late 1t
crashed into the carriage just as loud
moan went up from the frenzied on
lockers. who thronGed the roadside and
who but a moment before were cheering
tho President The horsemen managed to
get the frightened animals out of the
y,ay lust in time, and the car struck the
rear wheels OF the carriage on the LETT
side and pioughed through to the front
wheel of the vehicle which received the
rrIl force Of the blow. The carriage was
unset in the twinklinG OF an eye. and one
horse fell dead on the tracks The other
three powcrful grays attached TO the
vehicle started to run. and dragged by
them and pushed by the force of the car.
the wrecked carriage was moved thirty
or forty feet Agent Craig fell from his
seat Immediately in front of the the car.
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