The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-22
CLOSE CALL FOR TAFT.
Train on Which He Was Riding Came
Near Being Wrecked.

| Dennison, o., June Z2.-Secretary
Taft had a narrow escape from being
| involved in a serious wreck on the
Pennsylvania flyer. which was carry
ing him east last night. Prompt &C
ton of the towerman in signal sta
ton third of mile east of Coshoc-
ton and of the engineer CT the flyer
alone averted what might have been
a dreadful accident. AS the train was
speeding along at the rate of fifty
miles an hour, the piston rod on the
loft side of the locomotive broke short
off. Almost instantly the cylinder of
the engine was cracked by the unman-
ageable rod. The train was just ap-
proa ching a signal tower east of Co
shocton. The operator saw something
serious was wrong and threw down
signal to stop the train. The engineer
applied the emergency brakes and the
train of six cars came to a stop on
sharp curve.
The accident occurred at $50
o'clock when many of the passengers
on the train were attending dinner in
the diner. Few of them realized how
narrow their escape had been from
an awful accident.
Taft and Kellogg entered the dining
car and sat down to dinner after the
accident, without thought of anything
in connection with the stopping and
delay of the train. The secretary
made no comment when informed of
it: The engineer of the locomotive ex-
planned that it was merely matter of
luck that averted a bad accident.
eff the piston rod after it broke had
gone under the train" said he, I'VE
would have gone into the ditch as we
were running fifty miles an hour and
the derailment would have been
serious matter. Fortunately the
broken rod landed six or eight inches
outside the left rail. That saved u.s."
Immediately the towerman sent a
after about an hours delay the loco
motive arrived and the flyer proceeded
on its way east.
He Wants to See Ball Game.
Columbus, o.. June 22-Throughout
Sunday Secretary Taft received tele
grams and letters of congratulation on
his nomination. They came not only
from all parts of this country. but al
most from all parts of the world. Many
cordial messages have come from Ma
Mia and remote places in the Philip
pine Islands. and from Cuba, Porto
Rico. Panama and the Hawaiian Is
lands. The secretary is especially graft
fed with the kilograms from Manila,
many of which are from natives who
have been his friend since he was gov
ernor general of the islands. Several
congratulatory kilograms have been re-
NtlNCu ny 0CStttoAy AoAt AAOii
ant baseball people. who are aware of
his interest in the game. One of these
was from Frank Chance, manager of
the Chicago Cubs with whom the
secretary is acquainted personally.
Il wish" said Secretary Taft, that
1 could see a rafting good game of
| ball 1 have not had time to attend
a game for long while. I want 1t to
be a good one, however, a game for
| blood"
"Oh, I'll show you some fine base
| ball." said his brother, Charles P. Taft,
who is immensely interested in the
game, "when you come to Cincinnati
| later in the summer"
| You see." remarked the secretary
to his interviewers. logically, Charley
| is not only a baseball fan but also
a magnate. therefore 1 stand chance
of seeing good ball playing"
| Secretary Taft was accompanied as
| far as Columbus by Wade H. Ellis,
| attorney general of Ohio, who, practi-
| cally is the author of the tariff re-
| vision plank of the national Repubn-
can platform.
In the three hours ride between Gin
cinnati and Columbus they discussed
| the political situation with reference to
the Ohio campaign, in which Taft is
peculiarly interested. Participating in
the conference was Frank B. Kellogg
national committeeman from Mime
sofa, who is accompanying Taft east
No details of the conference were made
public.