The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-09-04
THE PRESIDENTS PERIL,
Details of Accident So Nearly Fat,
fN Him,

Details of Accident So Nearly Fata
to Him.
PITTSFlELD, Mass, Sept. 4.-Thc
shocking accident which came SO near
causing the death of the nations chief
| magistrate near this city yesterday is
still the all absorbing topic of CONVEX
sution.
1t Is pretty generally believed that
the smashup was due to the efforts of
trolley car mqtorman to beat the
presidents carriage in race down a
steep hill.
The car was filled with a crowd Of
men and women who We're bound for
the Country club at the end of the troll
ley line, where they expected to get a
look at the president as he passed on
bis way to Stockbridge.
go faster or we won't see him."
cried several persons in the car.
The motorman jerked his lever to
nearly full speed notch and sent the
car down hill at flfghtfut pace. 1t
struck the presidents landau and
smashed it to flinders.
The president was thrown several
feet. landing on his head in heap,
with Governor Murray Crane, Secre-
tary Lawrence and Secretary Cortel.
you. The presidents lip was cut and
his right cheek bruised. He was badly
shaken up, but quickly jumped to his
feet to render assistance to the other
members Of his party. who for a mo-
ment lay stunned.
The crowd was awe stricken. The
people feared the president had been
killed and rushed to the wreck, no one
expecting to find him alive. As the
nearest reached the demolished car
riage the president scrambled to his
feet and forgot his own injuries and
danger in aiding those more severely
injured. Governor Crane was practi-
cally unhurt, though he was thrown
into the air. Secretary Cortelyou was
injured on the back Of the head and on
the nose. but his injuries were not Sc
rious. He was rendered unconscious
W uIS luli HoWtNGE.
William Craig, secret service guard
for the president, was Instantly killed,
his skull being crushed, his heart and
lungs being laid bare and his right arm
severed above the wrist.
Driver Pratt was found unconscious
on the road, with sprained ankle and
a dislocated shoulder. His face was
also cut and bruised. 1t is thought he
will recover
The president, Governor Craze, Sec.
retary Cortelyou and Representative
Lawrence entered Governor Cranes
carriage after the accident and pro-
'eeded to Lenox. The president re-
NAMED there more than an hour and
hen left for Bridgeport.
When the fatal collision occurred, the
presidential party was still in sight Of
| portion of the multitude that had
ust ceased cheering the nations chief
lfter he finished his brief address here.
He had been driven to this city from
Dalton, a few miles distant, where he
lad spent the night at Governor
'rane's residence and where he had
made an early morning speech before
BEGINNING what, had been looked for
ward to as delightful coaching trip
trough the Berkshire hills.
1t had been arranged to have the
residential party guarded by small
mounted detail Of the Second Massa.
husetts infantry, but the escort was |
lot very close to the Roosevelt car
iage or the catastrophe might have
'een averted.
After the president and those accom-.
anylng him left Pittstield park they
rove to former United Stntes Sena.
or Dawes house in East street and
hen proceeded down South street to
he suburbs. Just after passing over
he bridge spanning the Housatonic
lver and Immediately north Of A. Il.
tevcns, home Il trolley cur manned by
luke J. Madden, new notorman, ran
Ito the presidents carriage.
The trolley car was running at half
oeed and was lowing the carriages.
raft, who drove the presidents ca.
age, turned his lenders to the left
cross the track and evidently the mo.
'rman thought he could>safely get by.
he car, however, without Stacking.
ruck the right side of the carriage,
the wheels.
When Craig saw the impending dan.
Y and that q collision could not be