1902 Carriage Accident
In the fall of 1902 Roosevelt visited New England on a two week swing to campaign for republican candidates and to rally support for his trust busting initiative.
On September 3 he was in the Berkshires at Pittsfield Massachusetts to give a speech at the Pittsfield Massachusetts Country Club. At 10:15 am he delivered a speech in the city park and then got into an open carriage surrounded by a mounted escort on its way thought Pittsfield.
The top brass of the Pittsfield Electric Street Railway wanted to take an open trolley to meet the president downtown. They either ignore or didn’t get the secret service orders to shut down the street car line.
They had to wait 10 minutes for local town stragglers. When they got started they were 15 minutes behind schedule. The bosses urged the driver Euclid Madden to pick up the pace and go faster. As he rounded a steep curve near the country club he was shocked to see the presidents carriage crossing the tracks and began to frantically ring the bell. It was too late.
William Craig, always loyal and faithful, shouted “Look out…hold fast” to shield the president. He fell under the trolley that crushed his skull and ground him under the wheels, killing him instantly. He was the first agent killed protecting the President.
Leslie Coffiet was the only other shot and killed protecting Harry Truman during the lassassination at Blair House by Puerto Rican Nationals.
Roosevelt was tossed 30 feet in the air and landed face first in the mud badly injuring his left chin and his left shin. TR groped around for his glasses his lip was bleeding profusely. His face was swollen, his coat torn and his silk hat covered in mud. It would turn out the injury to his shin would become the biggest problem. He continued his tour, but by the time he got to Indianapolis he had to endergo emergency urgery and remained in a wheel chair for 4 weeks.
(Roosevelt was in a wheelchair when he convened a conference of representatives of government, labor, and management on the Coal Strike on October 3, 1902).
Immediately after the accident Roosevelt demanded to see the street car driver.
Euclid Madden. When he stepped forward. TR cursed at Madden and bystanders had to restrain the president from physically attacking Madden.
Madden pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a fine and served 6 months in jail. The Pittsfield Electric Company paid the fine and reinstated Euclid 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.”
He would have to undergo two operations. His bodyguard William Craig was crushed and killed in the accident. Craig had become close with the family. TR was confined to a wheelchair for four weeks.
After the accident TR went on to continue his tour, but had to stop when they got to Indiana. The injury to his leg needed medical attention.
