Mower County transcript., 1902-09-10
PRESIDENTS CARRIAGE STRUCK
BY AN ELECTRIC CAR AT
PITTSFIELD, MASS.

Secret Service Officer William Craig
Falls Under the Car Wheels and
Meets Instant Deatf1-Driver Of the
Vehicle Seriously and Mr.. Roosevelt,
Governor Crane and Secretary Cor.
teIyou Slightly Injured. I. <'Is
Pittsfield, Mass, Sept. 4.-The presi-
dent of the United States escaped a
tragic death by only few feet in a
collision between his carriage and an
electric street car in this city during
the day 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 received only slight facial
bruise Secretary Cortelyou, who oc-
cupied 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
scratch.
The carriage was demolished by the
impact OF 1he rapidly moving car and
the wheel horse on the side nearest
the car, was killed outright. The
II 0f
capped injury.
Details CT the pisaster. :
The president and party were driV-
ing from this city to Lenox through
South street, one CT the priI:elpal
thnloughlares OF Pittstiald, which was
lined with cheering people and the
catastrophe occurred in plain view OF
the hundreds whose happiness over
the arrival of the nations chief was
suddenly turned to grief. -
The coach was a regulation tallyho
vehicle III which the president and his
party we're enjoying coaching trip
from Dalton, Governor Cranes home,
where the president spent the night, to
Lenox, distance Of about twenty
miles over the Berkshire hills. The
Kelly, with Motorman Luke J. Madden
on the front platform.
The car struck the coach in-the rear
and smashed in the back of the vehi
Gle, tipping it over and throwing it's
occupants to the ground. The car was
not badly damaged. Motorman Mad
den and the conductor, Kelly, were at
once arrested and brought to Pitts.
field. Pratt, the driver of the coach,
also was brought there and placed in
the Pittsfeld hospital. The president,
who, in falling from the coach,
Sustained Only Slight Bruises
and a few scratches, and Secretary
George B. Cortelyou, who suffered in
manner similar to that Of the president
with the exception that he was cut on
the head, with the other members OF
the party, went to the Country club
nearby, where their wounds were
dressed. In short time they proceed
ed to the Curtis hotel at Lenox, arriv-
ing there at II o'clock The president
retained his complete composure, al
though he was solicitous for the rest
Of those in the carriage.
After remaining at the scene of the
accident for an hour the president de-
termined to continue his journey to
Stockbridge. After a brief stop at
Lenox he was driven to- the train.
In the next carriage to the presi.
dents when the accident happened
was DR.. G. A. Lung of the navy, who
accompanied the president for just
such emergencies as this, and who was
promptly on hand to render assistance
to the president. But the president
was disinclined to receive medical at
tention, saying he was but slightly
hurt.