Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1902 — ROOSEVELT IS HIT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROOSEVELT IS HIT

Carriage Containing His Party Hit by Trolley Car. TWO MEN AJRE KILLED President’s Injuries Are Slight, but He Had a Narrow Escape. Coach Containing the Chief Executive's Party Struck by an Electric Car Near Lenox, Mass., with Fatal Results—Secret Service Man and the Driver of President’s Carriage DieGovernor Crane and Secretary Cortelyou Badly Braised. A terrible accident overtook the President's coach a short distance from Pittsfield, Mass., about 10 o’clock Vl'ednesday morning. After n short visit to the home of ex-Senator Dawes the President started on the long drive to Lenox. He had not gone far when an electric ear ran into them, throwing everyone to the ground and wrecking the coach. The President received cuts on the head. Gov. Crane was bruised. William Craig, the secret service mail, was instantly killed. The President was able to resume his journey to Lenox, hut sent word ahead that there should be no cheering. After leaving Senator Dawes' house, the four carriages containing the President and his immediate party were driven

down South street, two carriages on either side. When near the Country Club and at Che railroad crossing, an electric ear was noticed coming at a terrific rate of s|ieed. Mr. Craig signaled to the motorman to stop, hut he apparently paid no attention to the warning and the car came plunging on in its work of death. The President's carriage was literally smashed to pieces. The President, Gov. Crane and Secretary Cortelyou were piled up in a heap. Craig Instantly Killed. The awe-stricken crowd which witnessed the accident rushed to the President's carriage, hut with no expectation that he would he found alive. The President was cut on the right side pf his chin and his face. Secret Service Agent William Craig was killed outright, and I>. J. Pratt, the driver of the coach, sustained a fracture ,111 the skull which later caused death. The coach, which was a regijjation tal-ly-ho vehicle, was struck by an electric cav oq. the Pittsfield and Lenox street railway at about 9:30 o’clock. The accident happened at a point about a mile and a half from Lenox near the Pittsfield Country Club house while the President and his party were enjoying a coaching trip from Dalton. Gov. Crane’s home, where the President spent the night, to I<enux. a distance of about twenty miles over the Berkshire hills. The ear was in charge of Motorman Luke J. Madden on the front platform. The ear struck the coach in the rear

und smashed in the back of the vehicle, tipping it over end throwing its occupants to the ground. The ear was not badly damaged. Motorman Madden aud Conductor Kelly were at once arrested and taken to Pittsfield. Pratt, the driver of the coach, also was taken there and

placed In the Pittsfield hospital. Cortelyou Also Hurt. The President, who in falling from the coach sustained only slight bruises nr.d a few scratches, and Secretary George B. Cortelyou, who suffered in n manner similar to that of the President with the exception that he was cut on the hood, with the other momliers of the party, went to tlie Country Oiub near by, where their wounds were dr eased. In a short time they proceeded to the Curtis Hotel at Lenox, arriving there at 11 o'clock. The President retained his composure, although lie showed solicitude for the rest of the party. The excitement was intense, and rumors flew thick nnd fast that the President had been killed. After remaining at the scene of the accident for an hour, the President determined to continu * his journey to Htockbridge. After a brief stop at lienox he was driven to the -.rain.

PRESIDENT ItOOSEVELT.

O. B. CORTELYOU.