President Theodore Roosevelt’s Brush with Death in 1902
Stephen E. Siry provides a detailed account of the trolley car accident in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on September 3, 1902 that injured President Roosevelt and killed Secret Service agent William Craig. Siry covers Roosevelt’s travel in New England before the accident; describes the collision between a trolley car and the president’s horse drawn carriage; and details the aftermath of the incident, including Roosevelt’s desire to reassure the nation that he was safe. Siry also examines the treatment of the wound to Roosevelt’s leg and the subsequent travel plans that were altered and abandoned as his condition worsened.
Four photographs supplement the article, including three from the day of the accident.