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#Post#: 7149--------------------------------------------------
September 3, 1902: The Day That Pres. Roosevelt & Governor
Odell Each Came Close To Death!
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 13, 2026, 9:05 am
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Both articles are from the NY Times.
First, Roosevelt's near-death encounter...
New York Times
September 4, 1902
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PRESIDENT'S LANDAU STRUCK BY A CAR
Mr. Roosevelt Thrown Out, But Escapes with Slight Injuries.
SECRET SERVICE AGENT KILLED
Driver of the Carriage Taken to a Pittsfield Hospital in a
Serious Condition—Accident Occurred Soon After the Drive from
Pittsfield to Lenox Had Begun.
Special to The New York Times.
PITTSFIELD, Mass., Sept. 3.—The carriage in which President
Roosevelt, accompanied by Gov. Crane, Secretary Cortelyou, and
others, was being driven from this place to Lenox this morning
was struck by a trolley car at the foot of Howard's Hill, and
instantly demolished.
The occupants of the landau were thrown into the air, and Secret
Service Agent William Craig, who fell on the tracks directly in
front of the rapidly moving car, was instantly killed. The
President, who fell by the roadside, sustained no injuries other
than a bruise on the cheek and a severe shaking. Gov. Crane also
escaped unhurt, and Secretary Cortelyou's hurts were minor. D.
J. Pratt of Dalton, the owner of the carriage, who was driving
the four horses attached to it at the time of the accident,
sustained a dislocation of the left shoulder, a sprained ankle,
and was otherwise seriously bruised and cut.
The scene of the accident was about a mile and a half south of
the park where the President had addressed an audience of
several thousand people before entering the carriage. After his
address he drove to the home of ex-Senator Dawes, who is now
eighty-five years old, and after making a call of a few minutes
started down South Street for Lenox. The party were a little
late, and Mr. Pratt put his horses to their best speed in order
to make up time.
The President's carriage was on the west side of the street
railroad track, but as the track crossed to the eastern side of
the highway at the foot of Howard's Hill it was necessary for
the carriage to cross over to the east side. This Mr. Pratt
attempted to do, not seeing the car which was approaching from
the north, or rear. In this car were a number of passengers,
including James W. Hull, a Director of the Pittsfield Electric
Street Railway Company; District Attorney Nogen, A. W. Eaton,
and a number of members of the Pittsfield Country Club, who had
chartered it.
The car struck the right side of the carriage, demolishing the
wheels on that side and precipitating Craig directly on the
track. He was instantly killed, his entire skull being crushed,
and his body terribly mangled.
It was feared at first that Mr. Pratt's injuries were fatal. He
was taken at once to the House of Mercy, in Pittsfield, where
the nature of his injuries was ascertained. The physicians in
charge say that he may recover.
All four of the occupants of the carriage were thrown out. Gov.
Crane seems to have escaped entirely, and the injuries to the
President and his secretary are not regarded as being serious.
President Roosevelt and Gov. Crane, who occupied the rear seat
of the carriage, were both flung violently forward into the
highway, but they saved themselves by clinging to one another.
SOFT EARTH SAVES PRESIDENT.
Fortunately, at this point there is a quantity of soft earth,
caused by the wash from the hill, and into this the occupants of
the President's vehicle, other than Craig, were precipitated.
The President was on his feet in a flash. He assisted the others
to arise, and his first words were a question as to the
condition of the other members of the party. Learning that Craig
was under the car he said then he must be dead, and he gave his
attention to stanching the blood that was flowing from cuts in
the neck of Secretary Cortelyou.
The President's injuries were painful, but not at all serious.
The left side of his lip was bleeding from contact with woodwork
in the carriage, and the right side of his face was bruised. His
glasses were thrown off, but were not broken. His frock coat was
ripped at the elbow, and his silk hat was ruffled by the toss in
the sand.
When Mr. Roosevelt looked upon the body of the detective who had
been with him throughout his New England journey, he was deeply
overcome. He went toward the car and said to the motorman:
"Who has charge of this car?"
"I have," replied the man.
Shaking his fist, the President cried:
"This is the most damnable outrage I ever knew."
The body of Craig was removed at once to the house of A. B.
Stevens, nearby. President Roosevelt, Gov. Crane, Congressman
Lawrence, and Secretary Cortelyou walked to the Stevens house,
where they remained for about half an hour. Members of the party
were desirous that the President should abandon his trip, but
this he refused to do. He said that large crowds evidently had
gathered to greet him, and he would continue, but he announced
that he would make no more speeches during the day.
#Post#: 7150--------------------------------------------------
Re: September 3, 1902: The Day That Pres. Roosevelt &
Governor Odell Each Came Close To Death!
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 13, 2026, 9:08 am
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Now, Odell's near-fatal experience...............
New York Times
September 4, 1902
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GOV. ODELL ALMOST RUN DOWN BY AN ENGINE.
DUNKIRK, N. Y., Sept. 3.—Gov. Benjamin B. Odell arrived here
this morning, and was met at the station by Justice Warren B.
Hooker, State Commissioner L. F. Stearns, and Dr. Julian T.
Williams, Vice President of the Chautauqua County Fair
Association. With the Governor were his brother, Prof. G. C. D.
Odell of Columbia College, and Private Secretary James G.
Graham.
While the Governor was walking from the car to Justice Hooker's
carriage, a switch engine was backing coal cars through the
station. The Governor was about to cross the tracks when the
brakeman yelled, and Justice Hooker grabbed the Chief Executive
by the arm, pulling him back in time to prevent an accident.
This afternoon the Governor addressed an immense crowd at the
fairgrounds. He was introduced by S. Fred Nixon, Speaker of the
Assembly and President of the Fair Association.
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