Pittsfield 1902 – TR’s Near Death Carriage Accident
In the fall of 1902 TR went on a 2-week swing through New England campaigning for Republican candidates and to rally support for his trust-busting initiative. To outwit the Senate’s “Big Four” opposition TR goes directly to the people creating the Roosevelt Bully Pulpit.
At 10:15 on the morning of September 3rd TR delivered a speech at the Pittsfield Massachusetts Country Club and then got into an open carriage for the ride into Pittsfield. Against orders to shut down the street cars the top brass at the Pittsfield Electric Street Railway bordered one of their trolleys and headed into town. They were delayed by stragglers standing on the tracks and wound up 15 minutes behind schedule. To make up for lost time they ordered the driver Euclid Madden to pick up the pace. As he rounded a steep curve by the country club, he was shocked to see the president’s carriage crossing the tracks. He frantically rang the bell, but it was too late.
Secret Service Agent William Craig shouted, “Hold fast.” He died instantly when he was tossed from the carriage and landed underneath the trolley. Craig became the first of only two agents killed in the line of duty protecting the Presidents.
TR was thrown 30 feet in the air landing face first in the mud injuring his left leg and the left side of his face. He continued the tour, but by the time he got to Indianapolis he had to undergo emergency surgery on his shin. A month to the day he was in a wheelchair October 3rd when he convened the White House Conference on the Anthracite Coal Strike.
Immediately after the accident TR demanded to see the streetcar driver. When Madden stepped forward Roosevelt had to be restrained as he cursed him out. At trial Madden pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a fine and 6 months in jail. The Pittsfield Electric Company paid the fine and reinstated Madden at his old job. Roosevelt later told an audience, “If you’re set on risking your life go to Pittsfield and take a trolley ride.”
