The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-24

chase that MI all the available hooks OF his
country home.
When Roosevelt stood on Mount. Marcy
the other day and heard the sad news that
made him President, IL added only another
picturesque and Characteristic moTnent Ia
his life. IL was strenuous; 10 was Ike the
things that have always happened 20 this
American man on horseback
Many a night his impressive. blockt figure
on a stout little pony has pushed sn and
on through the darkness or a night In the
Rockies: with big game ahead. and the
saddl bow. In one OF his books he Has de-
scribed such a ride on the plains:
For nine hours We rode steadily across
the mOonlit prairie. The hoofbeats OF our
horses rang out in steady rythm through
the silence of the night otherwise ~ broken
save now and then by the wail,lg cry
OF a coyote. The rolling plains stetched
out on all sides OF Us. shimmerines in the
clear moonlight. and occasionally a band
OF spectral-looking antelOpes swept silently
away from before our party
on a hunting trip just before his .naugu-
ration as Vice President Colonel Roosevelt
killed twelve mountain lions, four cf them
at such close quarters that he put an end 20
them with his hunting knife. In one en-
counter a big lioness, although mortally
wounded, charged at him after he had
spent ell the bullets in his rife. lie jammed
the stock of his gun into the beasts mouth,
and by that time DIT. Webb. who was with
h5e, came up and dispatched the a.imal-.
perhaps the most exciting Of ak Presi-
dent Roosevelts hunting eXperienees was
the killing OF a big lion while he himself
hung suspended by the feet over a forty
foot cliff.
1t illustrates the character OF tie man
whose most salient mental trait s pure
grit. He and his guide. Golf. were coming
into Coyote camp, exhausted at the end OF
a hard day. Suddenly the dogs gave a yelp
and the party sighted two splendid lions az
the top of a cliff. One Of them ESCAPED
and the other swung down to a projecting
ledge a long distance below. Colonel Roose-
welt suggested that he and the guide. Gom.
above.
Il fOnr and finally reached the hlum CVQr the
lion. A bump Of rock projected Just far
enough to shut of a sight of their quarry.
A few inches of the lions body could be
| seen cleaning in the first shine Of the ris-
ing moon.
THIS WAS A NARROW ESCAPE.
Here, Gon, you catch me by the bet and
swing me over the cliff until 1 get ylear Of
the bulge OF that rock" said Roosevelt.
Golf braced himself against a tree and
swung the Vice President Of the United
States over the ledge. Colonel Roosevelt
was a little slow, straining his eyes for a
square shot.
"'Quick, quick" Golf shouted. Thirty
| seconds more and I won't be able TO haul
you back" Roosevelt banged away and
the beast below toppled of the clin.
1t was a narrow escape, but quite in line
with other incidents in the lie OF the
strenuous President"
dacks until he knows every foot OF the
game region. During his short term as
Governor he used often to slip away for a
few days hunting.
AS a wrestler and boxer Roosevelt's es-
tablished reputation is also famous he
hired NJ. ]. Dwyer, a professional nghter'
TO stay at Albany aud put him through a
course of training every day. The billiard
room on the top floor of the executive man
sion was fitted up as a gymnasium; and
here the Governor spent about two hours
q day wrestling, bag-punching ana boxing
Roosevelt likes nothing better than a gal
lop on a wild day along the Long, Island
shore. with the wind dashing the rain and
spray over his bronzed face.
While he was police commissioner. of New
York he let IL be known That ne would
never interfere with a legitimate boxing
| contest. He witnessed the Maher-Choynski
fight, and after the bout was over Deremp-
1T was one of the best contest 7 ever
Witnessed" he said. What / like see is
two evenly matched men. There can be no
possible harm in such an exhibition In
my opinion it is much better for a man 10
know how to protect himself with lis fists
than to be forced TO resort TO firearms,
AI RHf Governor or e E Roosevelt signed khe bill
which put an end TO prize fighting in New
for money; He is. however an Sthuslastc
admirer OF JeffrieS, whom he calls a great
man hnte en Id a aRe h night Of as the day that. Colonel
Roosevelt was elected Vice President two
newspaper men rode out to his house at
Oyster Bay to take the news to him lie
had had all the telephones taken ont OF his
house and was in ignorance of the elections
wei, I'm glad, I'm glad" he SAID, as he
marched delightfully."- up and down the
room. his hands working convulsisely un-
der the abbreviated tails Of his short coat.
Then he turned, his eyes beaming through
his thick, gold-bowed glasses.
What was the score in the football
game?" he asked.
He LOVES TO PLAY FOOTBALL.
When he was assistant secretary OF the
navy at Washington he used to play foot
ball by the hour with Gen. Leonarl Wood.
now Governor General Of Cuba Both wore
sweaters and went at the spot LIE lively
schoolboys.
Knowing all sports, Roosevelt me, all an
tagonists on their own ground. with SEN
ator Lodge he took long crossscountry
walks. With ex-Secretary Of State Olney
he used TO play tennis two hours a .iay.
Golf is the one sport 10 which. he has
never taken with any great relish. He has
had a long standing agreement. However.
matched game, Mr.. Root TO go on a big
hunt in the Rocky mountains In cas-. Roose-
Fighting, always fighting in one form or
another has been the record OF the strenu-
Gus President. And yet this stirriLg, war
ring man can be as gentle as a woman, as
every Rough Rider in his regimeng knows.
AT San Juan he went among the wounded,
Strengthening a hard blanket herd. hlling
a canteen there, and giving the inJETed men
little sips from the whisky flask he.carried.
"Al the great masterful races have been
| fighting races" he has said. "Cfwardioe
in a race, as in an Individual, is the I'M
pardonable sin. a class of professional nom
combatants is as huTtful 10 the reaEihealthy
growth of a nation as is a class Of fire.
eaters"
Upon the day that Roosevelt became as
sistant secretary of the navy, just previous
to the Spanish war. he began to put his
strenuous theories into official practice. He
asked for an appropriation of $4,000 for the
purchase Of ammunition. II was granted,
anH rroffU soon he requested sNHlNht more.
He was asked TO appear before tht proper
authorities and state what had been done
with the money.
81 bought cartridges with IL" said Roose-
welt the strenuous. AND What became OF
the cartridges
been fred" said Roosevelt promptly.
Target practice" =
what are you going 10 do 9th the
$500 O0O2" =.
more ammunition and burn IL up"
smiled the strenuous assistant secretary.
He had his way. When the war same up
the craftsmanship of the American navy
was the marvel Of the world.
As colonel Of the Rough Riders Roosevelt
was the same impetuOus fighter. Nothing
that was not strenuous suited himt Every
where the Haunting blue and while polka
dot OF the big handkerchief twisted about
his SLOUGH hat led the regiment like the
white plume of a Navarro.
Give 'em hell. boys, give EN- .el'" he
After the fight Of Las Guasimas some
body found the colonel under a tree prying
beneath his saddle flap.
Have they hurt your horse, C,olonelE