The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-12
BY CAPT. GEORGE A. LUNG,
Medical Corps, u. s. N.

| ltooSeNelt began IN August, 1--WE,
when / was detailed for duty at tho
Naval Dlspensary, Washington. ID. c..
and in particular as attending physi-
clan on the President during his New
England visit covering period OF
two weeks and over. during which
time he made Il Journey through all
the States Of New England. visiting all
Of the principal cities.
| met President Roosevelt Mt New
Haven, at which place he had arrived
on the L. s. 8. Sylph from Oyster Bay.
He was accompanied by Mr.. Cor
telyou, then his secretary, and after
being presented to him and making
a brief tour of the city OF New Haven,
We got on board IA special train and
began the tour OF New England.
President Roosevelt's personality
appealed to me, as II did to every
body ut the very beginning Of our
acquaintance. His manner was cor
dial and friendly and at my declara-
ton that l was wholly at his service.
we established a relationship that was
friendly and lasted up to the time Of
his death.
President Roosevelt was then In the
very beginning OF his career as Pres
ident following the death OF President
Mckinley. He was In the vigor Of
his manhood and enjoyed to the ut
most this experience Of meeting his
fellow-citisens. The journey was con-
spicuous for It's management, the per
lection OF the details covering the ar
rangements and tho display OF hog
pitality. During this journey an acci-
a1I AIae
chusetts, in which the President came
+, very near losing his life. This was
on Sept 3. 1909.
, Tho Presidential party had spent
. the night with Senator Murray Crane
at Dalton and in the early morning
OF the Sd came to Boston, where
= elaborate arrangements had been
made for his rece ption and entertain
;. ment A large grand stand had been
!, erected in the square near the Hotel
= Wendell Police arrangement, had re-
- strioted trafYic and many other fea'
;, lures. particularly cars, had been com
= pelled TO discontinue their passage
:. through the city. this as an element OF
, safety TO the Presidential party. Fol
- lowing the exercises in the grand stand
which covered a brief period. Presi-
dent Roosevelt then proceeded TO the
home of the widow Of former Gen.
:, ernl of the Civil War and from there
'. started on his way to Lenox, some five
or six miles distant, where he was te
a be entertained.
$ In Collision with Car.
Leaving Pittsheld. tho paa'ty, II
+ carria yes, proceeded along the road Il
the south leading past the Countr,
= Club. Just outside OF the city limits
], the trolley line passes from the nortt
q side of the road to the south side an(
at this point. Just as the President
y carriage was crossing the track {
= trolley car came along filled Will
e people from P!ttsfield. who, It wa
: afterward learned. desired to I've a
the Country Club to give him las
It farewell as he passed that place. TIT
q car was going at n high rate OF speet
t in order that II might pass the Pres!
IL dental party and arrive at the clu'
a before the President passed. 1t 81
II happened that Just as the President
" carriage was going over this cross
q ing the trolley car arrived at tn
e same point and the result was VIC
"a lent collision In which tho President
d carriage was badly broken, violentl!
n pushed 20 one side and the occupant
thrown out.
The Secret Service man who wa.
. seated on the box with the driver wa
instantly killed. President Roosevelt
was thrown violently TO his knees
was in the carriage Immediately be
: hind AMI hearing tho noise attcn3!ri
forward
the first object saw was the Secre
a Service man lying dead in the road
- way. His clothing and general ply
"A steal bearing bore such a strong re
- semblancc to the President that
"a with some newspaper men travelling
with me in the same carriage
>, thought FOR the moment that It wa
" the President and we were filled witt
- horror OF the situation. but mo
- mert's inspection disclosed that II wa
:, not the President.
= A little further on I saw the Pres!
:. dent rising to his knees and I imme
y diatcIy went forward and took hol'
~ OF him by putting my arms under hi
~ and gently squeezing his chest to dc
"A termine whether he had any broker
" ribs. his arms being intact and he be
a., ] ing aDln IL uSb Tlh ltES. ne ItstuNt
-, the squeeze and asked to be left alone
=, SO far az could he determined ut tina
!, moment no displayed no injury othe
8, than Commissions and small laceration
n on his right cheek.
" Personally Investigated IL.
!, Col. Roosevelt displayed his impet
"a uous nature on this occasion by imme
'v diately going back to the trolley ca
=. then standing not far from where III
IA collision occurred. with the motorma,
NJ standing on the ground near by. TIL
n, President demanded Of him how tina
"A could have happened md making
statement TO the effect that II II wa
A. an accident II was excusahle, but
40 II was duo to carelessness n wa
y. ''damnable." This was the only tim
10 heard President Roosevelt in a
lv my acquaintance give forth a profan
\. expression. He displayed on thi
ia occasion great interest and kee
m desire 10 learn all the particulars c
4 this accident.
m This accident abbreviated tho trip q
~ the President rs arranged severa
days and he Immediately proceeded I
r bridgeport where he again took tn
NJ L. s. s. Sylph and proceeded 10 Inf
home In Oyster Bay The injury I
* his cheek proved 10 be nothing NOR
/ than a lively confusion which CAV