Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-04


Pittsfield. Mass. Sept. 4.-The presI'
dent of the United States escaped n
tragic death by Il narrow margin in
Il collision between his carriage and
an electric street car in this city yes
terday, while one of his most trusted
guards, Secret Service Agent William
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 re-
ceived only a slight facial bruise. Sec
retary Cortelyou, who occupied a seat
directly opposite the president in the
landau, sustained 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.
In Plain View of Hundreds.
The carriage was demolished by the
impact of the rapidly moving car and
the wheel horse on the side nearest
the car was killed outright. The crew
and passengers of the car escaped in
jury. The president and party were
driving from this city to LenoX through
South street, one of the principal thor
oughfares of Pittsfield, which was
lined with cheering people, and the
catastrophe occurred in the plain view
of hundreds, whose happiness at the
advent of the nations chief was sud
denly turned to grief. Thousands had
poured into tie city in the early morn
ing from the nearby country to see
and hear the president and his al
dress at the city park had been loudly
cheered.
Start Is Made for LenOx.
When the journey to Lenox began
the mounted escort of police officers
and the carriages containing the news
paper correspondents who have accom-
panied the president on his tour, had
started off ahead on the road to
LenOX, and were some distance in adj
vance of the presidents equipage Three
OF four other open carriages fell in
line Immediately behind the landau
in which the president rode with Sec
retary COrtelyOu and Governor 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. Out through
South street is broad, smooth high
way. The tracks of the nittSfield cleo
trio street railway are laid in the
center of the road. with ample room
for teams OH each side and scores
of vehicles of every description fol-
lowed along this road behind the presi-
dents party.
Where the Accident Occurred.
Shortly after he left the park an cleo
tric car which had been filled with
passengers at that point started to-
ward Lenox, well behind the process
sion. 1t passed all of the teams, and
was about mile and a 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 center. Just
at this point the upgrade of the hill
begins. and but a short distance be-
yond the crossing there is narrow
bridge, spanning small brook.
Accident Story Soon Told.
1t was at this crossing that the ac-
cident occurred The motorman, 1t is
said, was trying to make a record
trip. and before any one could act the
motor was into the carriage. 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 presi- |
dent was thrown out, and the wreck |
OF the carriage fell against him. Sec