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Show ROOSEVELT IAS A CLOSE CALL Escapes Death by a Miracle. Thrown From Horse and Strikes Squarely Upon His Head. Hits a Stone, Cuts a Gash in Head and Is Bendered Unconscious. Uncon-scious. Special to The Tribune. WASHINGTON. D. C, Nov. 2.-PresI-dent Roosevelt had an escape from death so narrow that It was almost miraculous by being thrown from his horso while ho was riding through tho country near Washington, a week ago last Sunday afternoon. af-ternoon. The accident did not become known until today. Thrown From His Horse. Tho President was approaching a high fence at top speed, when his horso stumbled stum-bled and fell, throwing Mr. Roosevelt off forward. Ho struck squarely on his head, and was so severely stunned that he was unconscious for some time. Just how long ho does not know, as he was riding entirely alone. When he regained his senses ho found his horso standing near him. Could Not Stand. Tho President tried to mount, but was so dizzy from tho shock that he could not stand. It was some tlmo before ho regained re-gained full control of hla legs and arms. Ho then remounted and rode a slow pace to -tho point where his orderly was walt-inr walt-inr for him. Great Gash in Head. By that time thoro was a great lump on tho right side of tho President's head, and blood was trickling from a long, but shallow scalp wound above tho right car, where his head had struck a stone a glancing blow. Tho cut cxtonded down on tho forehead and tho evidences of it still are there. Saved by a Miracle. Tho President regards it as a miracle that his neck was not broken by the force of his fall. If ho had landed on the stono which scratched his head, Instead In-stead of In tho soft earth beside It, ho believes his skull would have boen crushed like an egg shell. Silent About Accident. The Pres'dcnt ordered that not a word should bo said about the accident. He was at his ofllco tho following day, but for the next two or three days only his intimate friends or peoplo with especially Important business were admitted. Bruises Explained. To thoso who have noticed the bruise since tho doors were opened, Mr. Roosevelt Roose-velt has given at least tho explanation that ho slipped and foil while ho was exercising. ex-ercising. He has so often been charged with recklessness, in his cross-country rides, that he feared It might affect his chances of election If the true story became be-came known. . A prominent official told U19 story to show how close Secretary Hay had been to tho Presidency. |