Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-07
WEIGHT THROWN
"7t AT PRESIDENT
Missile Crashes Into His Special
Train.
Mr.. ROOSEVELT IS NOT lNJURE"
A Mason's Plumb Bob, Weighed Two and
Half Pounds, Thrown by Someone Unkown
Through Car Window, at Which Sat Major
Webb Hayes, Whose Profile Is q Duplicate
Of Roosevelt

Washington Especially AS President
Roosevelt's special train was passing
through North Philadelphia at 7.3o T.
NJ, ell route to Washington some TN
known person hurled mason's plumb
bob through one of the windows of the
combination car Salvius.
The implement was of iron and
weighed about two and one-half pounds.
Webb Hayes, of Ohio, son of the late
President Rutherford B. Hayes, was sit
ting in the combination car Salvius read
ing newspaper. Several other gentle
men were in the car, and the conversa-
lion turned on the striking facial resem-
blance between Mr. Hayes and President
Roosevelt. No sooner had this fact been
remarked upon than the crash was heard
Pieces of glass were thrown in every di-
rcction, and heavy missile dropped to
the floor on the far side of the car,
Everybody jumped to his feet, for 1t
was thought for a moment that Mr.
Hayes had been hurt, for the projectile
passed within a dozen inches or so OF
his face. The missile proved to be a
plumb bob, conical- shaped piece of lead
The train was running at great rate
of speed but had slowed down somewhat
upon entering the city limits. 1t is con-
sidered by the railroad men who were
on the train as very doubtful whether the
miscreant could have aimed at MIR. Hayes
with design, for the train was running
at least IS miles an hour The incident
was especially startling. however, from
the fact of a strong resemblance OF Mr..
Hayes to the President. The comblna-
ton car was running next to the engine,
while the Presidents car was at the rear
of the train, with several cars filled with
army and navy officials intervening be-
tween il and the car where the startling
incident took place.
The weather was heavy and dense
fog which prevailed rendered it almost
impossible for the engineer to see tram
length ahead of him. Broad Street, i'll
North Philadelphia, had just been cross
ed and the train was i'll the vicinity OF
Oxford Street when the crash OF glass
ford Street when the crash OF glass
aroused the occupants of the Car.
Doubt was expressed by officials OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad who were on the
train whether the missile was intended
TO be hurled at tie President. They say
that several times recently stones have
been thrown at trains passing through
North Philadelphia, and on one recent oc,
casion a man sitting at one OF the win
dows of car was sc'erely cut by brok
ell glass when heavy stone crashed
through it,
No clue TO the thrower Of the missile
was obtained although the incident wa,
reported to the officials of the Pennsyl,
vania Railroad al Philadelphia, and th'
statement was made that it would be i'll
vestigated thoroughly. The Presiden
himself knew nothing of the matter unit
nearly an hour after it occurred.
The implement thrown at the tran
was a most unusual one to be in thu
hands of boy, who might, in spirl
of deviltry, thrown a stone at a tram
1t is of cast iron and weighs abou
three pounds. Had it struck Mao
Hayes on the head as it certainly woult
if it had passed through the window
foot lower, he certainly would have beef
injured very seriously, if not killed.
The President knew nothing of the Ill
! cident for sometime after ii occurred
| He made no comment upon it, passing
| off as the wanton act OF some irreSpon
sible person. As a measure OF preca,
| ton, the curtains at the windows OF sew
eral of the cars were drawn down atte
the news of the incident spread amoni
the passengers on the train.
The Secret Service officers who &C
companied the President took carge o
the missile, and an effort will be made
through the Secret Service Bureau, +
apprehend the person who threw it.