ACCIDENT TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12450, 5 September 1902, Page 4

ACCIDENT TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. TWO OF HIS SERVANTS KILLED. RUN-INTO BY AN ELECTRIC CAR. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, September 4. (Received Sept. 4, at midnight.) President Roosevelt, accompanied by the Governor of Massachusetts and other gentlemen, started in a four-horse landau to drive from Pittfield to Lennox. After going two miles the driver of the landau tried to crass an electric trolley line to get to the shady side, not noticing that a trolly car was approaching at the rate of 40 miles an hour, the lady passengers in the car urging the driver to go full speed in order, to overtake the President's party. Craig, of President Roosevelt's bodyguard, stood up and signalled the trolley man, who frantically pealed the bell and vainly applied the brakes. 'The two frofit horses cleared the line, wlien the car crashed into • the right-hand wheeler, throwing it against the landau, and lilting the vehicle at an angle of 45 degrees. Craig was thrown under the wheel of the car. He was frightfully mangled and killed instantly. The driver of the landau had his skull fractured, and has since died. The Governor of Massachusetts and Mr Cortelyon. (President Roosevelt's private secretary) caught hold of • the President, who was not thrown out, but struck his face on the door, raising a lump as .big as a fist. The other passengers we're hurt, but not very seriously. ' % President Roosevelt showed admirable coolness, though affected by the-death of Craig, whom he greatly esteemed. He instantly ordered a reassuring telegram to be sent to White House and New York to-avert a Wall street pauic. President Roosevelt admitted privately, "I just missed death." He angrily asked the mbtorman, ." Why did you drive so fast?" and received the reply, "I had the right-of-way;' you ought to have looked out." (Received Sept. 5, at 1.6 a.m.) The motor car driver and conductor have been arrested oh a charge of manslaughter. President Roosevelt's driver was ordered to go fast. The press complain of the lamentable absence of precautions to ensure the President's safety while touring. President Roosevelt continued the journey, and within an hour addressed the people at Lennox and Stockbridge, though evidently suffering. '■'. ;.