The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-10
PRESIDENT NARROWSlY
ESCAPES DEATH.
His Carriage Torn to Pieces by a
Trolley Car. One Secret
Service Man Killed.

Pittsdeld, Mass, Sept. s.-The drag
containing President Roosevelt and
his party on the way from Pittsfeld to
Lenox was struck by an electric car
today and the president was slightly
cut and bruised. Secret Service Agent
Craig vas killed. Secretary Cortelyou
was slightly injured. The driver of
the coach was seriously hurt.
The motorman and conductor OF the
car were placed under arrest.
The president was able to resume ms
| journey to Lenox but sent word ahead
that there should be no cheering.
HOW 1T OCCURRED.
The president Of the United States
escaped tragic death by only few
feet in collision between his carriage
and an electric car in this city today,
while one of his most trusted guards,
ESecret Service Agent VIM. Craig, was
Instantly killed, and David j. Pratt of
Dalton, who was guiding the horses
attached TO the vehicle, was seriously
| injured. 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
landeau, ssntained minor wound IN
the back Of the head and Gov. Crane,
who sat beside the president, e1tri-
Gated himself from the wreck practi-
cally without scratch. The carriage
was. demolished by the pact 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.
The president and party were driy-
ing from this city to Lennox through
South street, one of the principal
thoroughfares Of Pittsfeld, which was
lined with cheering pepole and the
catastrophe occurred in plain view OF
hundreds, whose happiness at tho ad-
vent of the nations chief was sudden
ly turned to grief.
Thousands had poured into She city
in the early morning from the nearby
country to see and hear the president
and his address at the city park had
been loudly eheered. At the conclu-
sion of the exercises he wished TO make
brief call on Henry L. Dawes,
formerly United States senator, whose
house in Elm street is but short dis
tance from the park. The presidents 8
carriage, in which he had ridden in
from Gov. Cranes home at Dalton,
was accordingly driven to the Dawes
residence and carriages containing a
number OF other gentlemen In the
party followed. President Roosevelt's
call was short one and then the car
riages returned to the city square.
After few moments delay the Jour
ney toward Lennox was begun. Mean
while the mounted escort of 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 20
Lennex and were some distance In ad-
vance of the presidents equipage.
Three or four other open carriages fell
in line Immediately behind the landau
in which the president rode with Sec
retary Cortelyou and Gov: Crane.
Secret Service Agent Craig, who
throughout the New England tour has
been almost constantly at the presi-
dents elbow, was on the drivers box
beside Coachman Pratt.
IN A BROAD HIGHWAY.
Out through South street is broad,
smooth highway. The tracks of the
Pittsfeld Electric street railway are
laid in the centre 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
electric car which had been filed with
passengers st that point, started
toward Lennox well behind the process
sion. It passed ali of the teams and
was about mile and half out from
the 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 a little and teams are COM
PEELED to cross the street railway tracks
to the east side. The railroad then
continues at one side of the street
instead of in the centre. Just at this
JO10b GAO OH-SIoOO VI GAO AAA3 HS51oS
and but short distance beyond the
crossing there is a narrow bridge,
spanning a small brook.
The trolley car approached the road.
crossing under 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 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
vigorously to the mosorman to stop his
car. Almost at the same instant Gov.
Crane, who quickly perceived the
danger, rose to his feet and likewise
motioned to the motorman. The lat
ter in great excitement desperately
tried to stop his car but it was too
late. Il crashed into the carriage just
as loud moan went up from the fren-
zied onlookers who thronged the road
side and who but moment before
were cheering the president.