Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-06
PRESIDENT THROWN
FROM HIS HORSE
NimbIe Work Saved Him From the
Horses Hoofs-Mrs. Roosevelt
Was Alarmed.

Roosevelt narrowly escaped serious
injury while riding new and uatried
horse late Tuesday afternoon in an
accident, the details of which were
the talk of Washington. That the
president escaped unhurt was due
to his having thrNwn himself as far
as he could from the animal. which
reared and fell backward into Rock
creek.
Mrs. Roosevelt was with the pres
ident and they were accompanied by
an orderly. After the accident the
president was thoroughly wet, but this
he enjoys, and after the orderly had
captured the horse the president in
sisted on remounting and completing
his ride, then about half over.
| When the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt returned to the White
House they did not speak Of the acci-
dent. Inquiry was made concerning
the incident, but it was for this rea-
son denied at the White House.
The accident occurred in Rock
Creek Park, which has been preserved
| In its natural state and in which the
/ president delights to ride. He had
urged mettlesome horse into the
stream and started III, the sharp in
cline to the higher ground on the OPP
posite side. In the middle of the as
cent the animal reared and the presi-
dent was forced to throw himself for
ward upon the horses neck to bring
him down to earth again. In mo-
ment the, horse reared again and lost
its balance. W
Freeing his feet from the stirrups
as best he could. the president threw
himself as far as possible from the
falling animal. Both landsf in the
water with a great splash. AS he
struck the water the president. realiz-
ing his danger, bounded from the
horse, which turned in the opposite
direction from the side on which the
rider fell a ~~1
Fortunately, the horse landed with
his hoofs away from me- remarked
the president to friend, "ror I have
a decided aversion to having my hair
combed In the manner he proposed to
use his hoofs. =.
| The horse is a recent addition to
the White House stables and under or
binary circumstances would have been
first tried out by groom. This sug-
gestion. did not, however. appeal to
the president when the June sunshine
4 tempted him for ride. His other
mounts are out of condition and he
was tired of playing tennis for ex-
ercise. He wan ted something more
exciting and breath of the country
So he ordered the new horse to the
outskirts of the city with the horse to
be ridden by Mrs. Roosevelt.
Soon after mounting the president
QfoCOvCICu tudI tuC HEW f-yCdA -Olu
was what the groom termed "a trifie
light on his forward foot, sab" When
the ford was reached the animal hest
tated, but took the water prancing.
Going up the bank the horse threw
his rider IN a dangerous manner. The
water at this point is about two feet
deep and undertake by large stones.
The incident was a severe shock to
Mrs. Roosevelt, but she was quickly
treasured by seeing the president
spring to his feet. shaking the water
from his khaki riding suit. The presi-
dent would not hear OF abandoning
the ride. and remounted the horse.
which was caught by the orderly, and
came home none the worse for the ac-
cident.
The president tried to laugh away
the incident. saying that "it really did
not amount to anything" But his
friends think he had narrow es-