The Washington herald., 1918-04-20
BRITISH TANK
BURNS FINGERS
OF PRESIDENT
Chief Executive Grasps H9
Exhaust Pipe While Ip
specting War Monster.
INJURY NOT SERIOUS
INJURY NOT SERIOUS
Crowds View Movement oi
Engine Of Destruction
in D. E. Streets.

President Wilson's left hand was
severely burned yesterday when he
grasped an exhaust pipe in the
British tank Britannia. which is be-
ing used in the liberty loan cam
paign. Although the burn was. so
deep that the resulting inflamma-
tion caused the skin to break in
several places. DR.. Cary T. Gray
son. his physician. is hop-ful that
the member will not be incapaci-
tated for more than a week or ten
days.
The Britannia reached the city in
the morning. and early in the after
noon rolled its numbering way
through the streets to the entrance
to the White House executive Of
fices. President Wilson inspected
the battle-scarred land dreadnought
and then expressed curiosity as to
the sensations of the crew while
the machine was in motion.
The officer in charge suggested
that the President might enjoy a
short ride. and Mr. Wilson accepted
the invitation with alacrity. The
side entrance was thrown open and
he stepped into the interior and
took his station near one of the
slits where a rapid fire gun was
mounted.
Grabs Hot Pipe.
The crew. all veterans OF many bat
ties. jumped to their places and the
Britannia moved up the thoroughfare.
After proceeding about 100 yards. it
was halted and the President was in
vited to mount small iron ladder to
a.. A.. AA aNa NAI 90
mount the ladder he reached out with
his hand to grasp what at first glance
appeared to be an iron handhold. He
grasped an iron exhaust pipe of the
engine, but with no evidence that he
had suffered an injury. quickly with
drew his hand and mounted to the top
OF the tank.
After a somewhat hurried inspection
OF the construction of the low tur-
rets he hastened back to the White
House and sought first aid treatment.
DR.. Grayson was summoned and after
taking precautions against Infection
bandaged the Presidents hand. The
burn extended from the tips of the
fingers to the back of the heel OF the
palm, being especially deep at the base
Of the fingers.
Thousands upon thousands OF people
lined Pennsylvania avenue as the
Britannia slowly wended its way down
the avenue to the Treasury and out
Jackson place to the Ellipse.
While the monstrous tank slowly
moved onto the Ellipse and came to a
full halt, members of the Liberty Loan
Committee addressed the admiring
throng and pledges for liberty bonds
began to pour in on the committee.
Just as factory whistles began to
whistle for the noon lunch hour the
gray engine of destruction moved.
rumbling and in a halting manner as
ships slip off the ways when launched,
from a fat car in the railroad yards
at Four and a Half street and Vir-
ginia avenue southwest. Crushing be-
meath its caterpillar treads the heavy
timbers laid as a runway for it to be
unloaded. the huge awkward tank
moved slowly out upon the winding
cobble road leading down to the street.
While horses reared and sidled out
of the way, Capt. Richard Haight. who
arrived from Buffalo with the crew
of the Britannia early yesterday morn
| ing, took charge and drove the awk-
ward monster down the inclined stone
roadway and into Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
Crowd Cheers.
| AS the tank, manned by its original
crew, slowly swung into the Avenue
\ the crowd, thousands of whom had
been waiting since early in the morn.
ing for its appearance. burst into a
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.