Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
President Not in Danger Zone
at Fire Engine Accident.
DENIAL FROM WHITE HOUSE
No Truth in Several Other Recent
Stories of Narrow Escapes.
REPORT OF LIEUT.. LYON
Makes No Mention Of Mr.. Roose.
velt's Carriage When Hose Cart
Nearly Hit Wagon.

The recent stories given out about
the President having had narrow es-
capes from accidents. first with the
automobile and now with the fire en-
gine. are pure inventions.
So far as the President is aware, no
automobile ever came near him. If it
did the President did not notice 1t.
AS for the fire engine matter, the
whole story is absurd. and the news
papers have simply been imposed upon.
The Presidents carriage was drawn
up against the curb on one side OF
New Hampshire avenue, which is
broad, and which at tine time was de-
serted The fire engine was against
the curb on the other side of the street
and half block distant when the fire
engine horse fell.
The fire engine could not have hit
the Presidents carriage il it had tried.
Tho above statement was given out a
the White House today. as result Ot
repeated publications of late of the al
legged narrow escapes of the President.
These publca tions r ached a china
this morning when a local newspaper TOLD
in great detail Of how collision between
hose cart of the fire department., driver
by Lieut.. Lyon, and White House
carriage with President Roosevelt in it
was averted only by Lieut. Lyons pres
ence OF mind in pulling his team of horses
back on their launches and throwing
them to the pavement So fearful was
the strain Oh the lieutenant the story
said. that he bled at the nose and was
otherwise incapacitated.
Some Truth in One Story.
1t vas said unofficially at the White
House that the only one of several re.
cent stories of this sort which had an,
foundation in fact was that telling of q
negro boy employed by WASHINGTON
dairy who whizzed his bicycle close tC
the President while Mr.. Roosevelt was
returning to the White House from the
Dutch Reformed Church on 10Th stree,
near Rhode Island avenue severa! Sun
days ago.
Beyond this the President has had nc
escapes" from accidents. minor or Sc.
rious. He was not nearly run down by
an automobile and he was not threatened
by racing fire engine.
With respect to the supposedly serious
nature of the fire engine incident. the
report of Lieut.. Lyon who was drjvine
the hose wagon which was described as
having nearly run down the President
carriage. is somewhat Illuminating
Lieut.. Lyons Report.
The report follows:
Washington. D. c., December y. 1905.
Mr.. William T. Belt. CHIEF Engineer. D.
G. Fire Departments:
Sir: most respectfully report that
while responding at moderate rate of
speed to box No. :,43 just as I was about
TO cross New Hampshire avenue at 18th
street, wagon cut me off and to avoid
collision with the wagon | turned into
New Hampshire avenue.
Horse No. GAS, attached to the hos,
wagon. fell. and in his endeavors to rise
pulled down horse No $40. One pole strap
was broken and horse No. Ga was cut on
the right foreles. Horse No. GAS was
slightly skinned in places.
II imm diateiy notified headquarters
and No. hose wagon filled in for our
wagon On arriving back in quarters.
notified Deputy Chief Wagner OF the ac-
cdent and called. Dr. Robinson ivetefi.
marian }. was driving the wagon. Re
spsctfully. j. +. LYON. Lieutenant
No Mention OF President.
Lieut.. Lyon. who. according to his owr
statement was driving the hose cart n,