The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14
THE MAN ON HORSEBACK
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT RIDES
WELL, BUT NOT RECKLEssLY.
Incident OF the Visit to Chickamauga
Battlefield Related by Gem
eral BOyntOn.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.-Gen. Henry V.
Boynton. the well-known Washingtonian,
who is president of the Chickamauga Park
Commission, was with President Roosevelt
on his recent Southern trip. He says the
President is never safer than when on
horseback. He laughs at the idea that he
is in any danger when in the saddle. ITO
the average tenderfoot," said the general,
''who cannot ride wooden hobby-horse
without being tied on. there is no place
more dangerous than the back OF spirited
horse, but to an experienced horseman who
has lived in the saddle for months at a
time out on the plains there is no place
where he feels safer. President Roosevelt
is one of the best riders I ever saw. He
knows horse, and when he is in the sad
die 1 have no doubt he feels safer than
he would in trolley car or in a carriage
driven by somebody else. In the saddle
he is master of his own horse, and not
subject to the mistakes of others. A man
would be laughed at In Germany for sug-
gesting that Emperor William is exposing
himself to danger by reviewing the army
maneuvers on horseback. because the EN-
peror is good rider. But doubt if any
army officer accompanying the Emperor
is as good horseman as President Roose-
velt."
Ibid the President ride recklessly at
Chickamauga?"
'Well, as | said before, the man who
knows nothing about riding would have
probably thought so, but TO those who were
He had a good horse. and he rode at a
stiff gallop. 1t probably looked reckless
TO see 500 cavalrymen riding at full gal
lop but the President was in the lead and
on a good road safer than the asphaIt
streets Of Washington, because there was
danger from his horse slipping The
men who were dismounted lost their seats,
not from the rapid pace, but because. in
their surprise they started off too fast
without considering that there were 500 of
them in column. They crowded each 9TH
at place crowded from the road but
skirted the flank of the column and re-
gained his place near the President 1t
was exhilarating ride, and the President
enjoyed it, He was at no time safer while
away from his cottage at Oyster Bay. and
probably is no safer from harm there.
There Is lot OF silly discussion of the
Presidents recklessness. He is not reck-
less. and no man accustomed to riding
would think of suggesting such thing
regarding his riding. The Presidents crit
les should remember that Washington and
Jefferson rode TO their inaugurations on
horseback"
Before the President left Washington for
Oyster Bay many was the morning when
he was missing from the White House be-
fore breakfast. For some time IL was not
known where he spent those early morning
hours. Finally IL was discovered that
with General Wood. he went over to
Georgetown. where boat was hired, and
they had an hour = rowing on the Potomac
He Is a fine oarsman. said the old man
who rents the President his boat. People
need not be afraid that he will upset and
be drowned Yes. he is much handler with
the oars than Mr.. Wood