The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-09-11
PRESIDENT ESCAPES DEATH
Carriage Demolished, Secret Service Man
Killed, President Roosevelt Badly
~ Bruised and Others Seri.
ously Injured.

States was put in imminent danger
while he was being driven in a car.
riage between Pitts6eld and Lenox
this morning. One of his compan-
ions, William Craig, secret service
agent, was killed outright, and the
driver of the carriage was badly hurt.
Several others, including w. Murray
Crane, the governor of Massachusetts,,
and the secretary to the president,
George B. Cortelyou, were bruised and
cut.
So far tonight the evidence that has
been gathered points to the conclusion
that the accident which brought these
casualties was due to the desire of a
Pittsfield electric railroad motormaD
to get his passengers to the Country
club before the presidents cavalcade
should pass the house. The motor
man, Luke Madden, was arrested: so
was the conductor, James Kelly.
The presidents injuries, had they
been sustained by man Of less sturdy
makeup, would have been called very
severe. 1t VAS apparent that they
caused him pain, but in no way inter-
fered with his activity and ability to
get around. He received blow on
the right side of the face which caused
it to swell out considerably, and
which blackened his eye, and, indeed,
all the right side of his face. Blood
was drawn from a slight scratch on
his cheek.
The accident occurred about three
miles out of Pittsfeld about 200 Yards
from the Country club, toward which
the president and some of his party
were being taken. The president was
in a large open barouche drawn by
four magnificent bay horses. Beside
him sat Governor Crane. On the
front seat was Secretary Cortelyou.
On the right and left of the carriage
rode mounted men of the Second Mas
sachusetts infantry.
There were five carriages behind.
These SIX carriages were travelling
at high rate of speed along the East
road, which is broad macada N turn
pike. There is trolley line on it.
About 200 yards from the Country
club, on the Pittsield side, the trolley
track shifts from the middle of the
road to the left. The cavalcade was
on the left side of the trolley track as
it started down the incline approach
ing tn rise on which the Country club
stands. The president and his friends
were interested in the rush of women
in light frocks from the verandaS of
the club to the stone wall near the
road as the clatter of hoofS announced
the approach of the party.
The carriage was struck as 1T was
crossing the road diagonally. Craig,
who was looking around, and half
standing, trying to warn the trolley
car back, was knocked from the box
to the track and the car passed over
him, killing him Instantly. The car
rage was knocked to one side and
wrecked.
The president was thrown out and
the wreck Of the carriage was thrown
against him. He was picked up,
bleeding from cut on the right
cheek, but he was able to get on his
feet at once.
Secretary Cortelvou was unconscious
when picked up. . He was badly hurt
on the back Of the head. and cut on
ON the face, but soon recovered and
asked for the president. Gov. Crane
was badly bruised and Representative
Lawrence was the least hurt of any
of the whole party in the president S
carriage.
The driver of the carriage, D. J.
Pratt. was very badly hurt. He fell
with Craig, but the reins swung him
out of the path of the car.
The physicians at the Pittsfeld hos
pital say that driver Pratt's injuries
include dislocated left shoulder, his
ankle is sprained, his face badly
scratched and his body bruised. After
an examination the physicians decid-
ed that he would recover.
William Craig, who was killed was
the Presidents body guard. He stood
six feet two and weighed over two
hundred pounds. He carried no sur
plus flesh, and so his weight was
largely due to his muscular develop
ment. He was the most familiar fig
ure about the White House, for he
was always on duty there during bust
ness hours-and frequently after bust
ness hours.
His responsibility was great. BE
was charged with seeing that no bod
lily harm came to the President. His
faithfulness to his chief was often
spoken of by public men In Washing
| ton.