The Washington herald., 1908-06-22

Pittsburg, Pa, June 22.-Thankful that he
had escaped injury or death on MS train
near COshocton. Ohio, and delightfully."-
looking forward 20 meeting many Of his
Old-ume college mates. William H Taft.
Presidential nominee Of the Republican
party. arrived in Pit;sburg at l2:15 this
morning.
He was on his way 10 New Haven,
Conn. 70 attend the reunion Of his class
and to participate in the annual celebra-
ton Of Yale College.
The Secretary and his party had a mar
row escape from being involved in seri-
Gus wreck on the Pennsylvania flyer
which was carrying them east Prompt
action Of the towerman in a signal sta
ton a third OF a mile east Of Coshocton
and Of the engineer Of the flyer alone
avoided what might have been a bad ac-
cident.
As the train was speeding at fifty miles
an hour, the piston rod on the left side
Of the locomotive broke short of. In
stanuy almost the cylinder Of the engine
was cracked by the unmanageable rod.
The train was Just approaching a signal
tower east Of Cosnocton. The operator
saw that something serious was wrong
and throw down a signal TO stop tho
train. The engineer applied the emer-
gency brakes and the train OF six cars
came TO a stop on a sharp curve.
Taft Does Not Know.
The accident occurred at $50 o'clock last
evening as many Of the passengers on
the train were at dinner in the dining
car Few realized how narrow their es-
cape had been from an awful accident
Secretary Taft and National Committee
man Kellogg entered the Gining-car and
sat down 20 dinner, even after the acci-
dent occurred. without thought Of any
thing serious in connection with the stop
ping and delay Of the train The engineer
Of the locomotive explained that 1t was
merely good luck that averted bad ac-
cident
IF the piston rod after it broke. had
gone under the train" he said, we would
have gene into the ditch, as we were run
ming fifty miles an hour. Fortunately. the
broken rod landed six or eight inches out
side Of the left rail That saved us"
Immediately after. the towerman sent a
message to Dennison for another locomo-
tive, and. after a delay OF about an hour.
the locomotive arrived. and the flyer pro-
ceded on its way east.
Owins to the wreck. the train was an
hour late in reaching Pittsburg. the
trains schedule being Il o'clock. Every
man in the party was hungry. However.
a luncheon ordered by telegraph was
served in the train
Sees Victory for Party.
I'm feeling bully" said the nominee.
in reply to a question at the Union Sta
tion. And we're going to win. The
platform is a good. sound document, and
with that back OF US, there should be no
trouble.
Il just came from my home in Gin
einnat, where I received loving tribute
from my friends and neighbors in the
shape of a grand reception. it makes me
feel like a new man. Yes, il will be an
interesting campaign. We will get into Il
in due time; I guess, not too early, but
in time enough to present a thorough
discussion OF the issues 10 the people"
Mr.. Taft refused to commit himself on
the Roosevelt policies" when asked
whether he would so before the people
with that as a campaign slogan Neither
would he say whether the Roosevelt
policies would be continued if he became
President.
Declines TO Discuss Bryan.
When told William J. Bryan had as
sailed in particular the anti-injunc.lon
platform Of the Chicago convention. de-
claring 1t transparent fraud. ne
nominee smiled and said he had nothing
to say. He likewise refused to make any
comment on Bryan's criticism yesterday
Of the Republican national platform in
general
Mr. Taft does not know lust when the
formal notification Of his nomination will
be made by the committee appointed oy
tne national convention at Chicago last
week. He said 1t was customary to re-
ceive It arout ten days after the adjourn
nlelt Of the opposition convention. This
would make il about July l.
No definite plans he said. had been
arranged for IT, His plans for the future.
he said. were In the hands OF his brother.
Charles p. Taft.