Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-09-05
THE PRESIDENT INJURED.
HIS CARRIAGE WRECKED BY A TROLLEY
CAR NEAR PITTsFIELD WEDNESDAY.

pants OF the carriage Cut ana bruised -
The Presidents Injuries not Serious-Ar-
rest of the Motorman and Conductor How
the Accident Occurred President Re-
turns Home to Oyster Bay.
While President Roosevelt and his
party We're enjoying a coaching trip
from Gov Cranes home in Dalton,
Mass, to Lenox, over the Berkshire
hills, Wednesday morning, the coach
in which he rode was struck 10y an
electric car near the Pittstield Coun-
try club house, about a quarter of a
mile from Pittsfeld The car struck
the coach in the rear and smashed in
the back Of the vehicle. which tipped
over, and its occupants We're thrown
to the ground. The president sus-
tanned only slight bruises and scratches,
/ Secretary Cortelyou suffered in sim
liar manner, with an ADDITIONAL cut on
the head, Secret Service Agent Craig
! fell under the car and wa killed, the
upper part of his body being badly
mangled and Driver Pratt was serious
" and it was at first thought fatally
injured Gov. Crane was slightly hurt.
A
entire party from the carriage with
great force. Secret Service Officer
Craig. who was half standing looking
round and trying to warn the trolley
car back. fell straight across the street
car rails. In an instant the car had
passed over him and was forcing the
presidents carriage along, crushing it
and grinding it to pieces.
'prtalyn SpOSplpSS
the ground, while the president and
Gov. Crane. who were thrown several
feet in opposite directions, gathered
themselves together. but were some
what dazed for a few minutes
Driver Pratt, manned and bleeding.
held fast to the reins and was drag
ged quite a distance by the horses,
which act probably saved his life, He
was taken to the hospital and it is be-
ljeyed will be about again in few
days. His shoulder was dislocated,
his leg wrenched and his face bruised
and torn. The president showed great
calmness and presence of mind A
cry of horror went up from the pas
sengers in the car when they saw what
had happened, and they crowded
around the demolished carriage. with
other members of the presidents par
ty who were following in carriages.
The president assured them that he was
not hurt. although he evidently suf-
fered from his violent fall The mang
led body of Officer Craig was found
under the car near the rear truck and
was taken to the house of A. d. Ste
vens. near by. accompanied by the
president and his party. A crowd
soon gathered about the house and Sc
cured fragments of the demolished
carriage as souvenirs of the catastro-
phe. The motorman of the car was
loudly denounced and threats of mob
bing him were made, but he stuck TO
his post and made no reply. In half
an hour, after personally supervising
the caring for the remains of Secret
Service Agent Craig, the president re-
sumed his journey to Stockbridge,
where he took his train enroute for
Bridgeport, where his yacht awaited
him to carry him to Oyster Bay. He
sent word ahead that he wanted no
cheering on the way, but the trib-
ute of silence to the memory of
faithful friend He reached home at
80 Wednesday night He will not
allow his injuries to prevent his trip
to Chattanooga upon which he Is
Sc0tuuItU 10 SldGl lOud.. DSll- -.
William Craig who lost his life in
tne accident. his last act being ges-
ture of warning to the president, was
one of the best officers in the service.
Since last October he had been sta
toned at the White House andhad ac-
President Roosevelt on all
his journeys out of Washington. Dur
ing the presidents vacation at Oyster
Bay he had charge of the secret serv-
ice detectives stationed there and has
been constantly at the presidents side
during his New England trip. He
was IS years old and a noted athlete.
He came &c this country % years ago
from Scotland. his native country. He
was for years the champion broad
swordsman of this country, an expert
horseman, fine pistol and gun shot,
a boxer of no mean ability. and a
wrestler of note, and was once cav
alrvman in the regular army. He en-
tered the secret service four years ago.
His home was in Chicago. where he
leaves a mother and sisters. Two
brothers from Holyoke, Mass, took
charge of the body which was sent to
Chicago Mr.. Craig stood high in
the affection and esteem of the presi-
dent and his family.
\ few minutes after the accident,
Luke ]. Madden, the motorman of the
car. and James Kelly. conductor, were
arrested and subsequently bailed in
The sum of $500. The regular cars
we're not running over the presidents
route. this car being a special. char
ered 10y members of the Country club,
and was bound for the club house,
where the president was scheduled for
/ brief stop. 1t Is charged that the
notorman was ordered by fashionable
among his passengers to hurry
md get to the club house before the
resident. that he was running the car
It high rate of speed, and that he
,aid no attention to signals to stop.
lie denies this, however. and SAYS that
le changed his gong and supposed the
.arriage would slow down or stop, but
hat instead it suddenly turned on to
he tracks too late for him TO stop.
The car was but little damaged. 1t Is
sserted that Chief of Police John
escorting the party, Gov.
frame and Mr. Craig, who was killed,
Il Signalled to the motorman to stop
ust before the collision President
Roosevelt is said to have exclaimed to
he motorman: 'If your ear became
| accuse you of moth
ng; but if you purposely drove as you
i'd. it is an outrage. - Il had the
light of way" the motorman is re-
orted to have replied.
At Lenox. Stockbridge and Bridge