Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-02
HUNT FOR WILD TURKEYS
President Roosevelt to sueRd a Day
Shooting in Virginia.
ALSO VISITS HISTORIC sATTltFlELOS
Hunting Party ~ to BE the Guest OF
Relatives of surgeon General
RixIy UntiI Monday
Morning.

MANASSAS, Va, Nov. lin the htful
glare Of locomotive lanterns President
Roosevelt at 4:3O this morning stepped
briskly from his private car in the rail
road yard here and greeted cordially the
little group of newspaper men, special Of
hcers and railroad men who had gathered
to see him start on his hunt for wild
turkeys.
He was attired in a Khaki suit with
leggings and over this was a long, heavy
overcoat, and a black SLOUGH hat was on
his head as he alighted from the car.
A servant handed to him a fine double
barreled shotgun. which he threw Familiarity
into the crook Of his left arm. Secretary
Root, who had preceded the president from
the train, wore a canvass shooting suit, an
o%vercoat and, a golf cap. The president,
after a quick survey of the starlit sky. re-
marked TO Mr.. Root that they were in
luck as to the weather.
The president and Secretary Root we're
Joined at once by Surgeon General Rixey,
Secretary Cortelyou and j. T, L~eachman.
sheriff of Piney William county. Sheriff
Leachman was to act as the guide OF the
party on the turkey hunt.
Preceded by railroad men bearing lam
terms, the president and his party trudged
v a quarter VI y mllt dlOug lle maze OF
railroad tracks to the carriages in waiting
to convey them to the shooting grounds.
They were followed by servants carrying a
big hamper of mineral water and luncheon.
As he walked briskly along the president
remarked to Secretary Root:
Il have tramped ties before in my time"
Yes" responded the secretary, with a
suggestion Of irony in the tone Of his voice,
81 have often thought that there was no
active exercise so restful to The wearied
mind as the tramping of railroad ties
start for Hunting Grounds.
The party entered carriages in the village
and, preceded by Sheriff Leachman and a
secret service officer in a buggy, started
for the hunting grounds, about four miles
distant. President Roosevelt, Secretary
Root, Secretary Cortelyou and DR.. Rixey
occupied one carriage. which was followed
by another containing servants and mes
sengers with the luncheon.
This morning the party is hunting over a
fine preserve of 1900 acres known locally
as the Ben Lomond place and owned by
Representative John F. Rixey, a brother OF
Surgeon General Rixey.
While the president hopes TO add a wild
turkey or two to his hunting trophies. he
said this morning he was here particularly
for the needed recreation the outing would
afford him and for the purpose of getting
over the historic Bull Run oattlehelds
which he never had visited.
After the mornings hunt the party will
assemble at noon at the Henry house
which is in the very center OF the opera
tions of the first battle of Bull Run. There
the luncheon will be served. During the
afternoon the president will drive over thu
battlefield. At $50 this afternoon the presi
dent and party, on their special train, will
go to Brandy, Va, twenty-nine miles soutl
Of Manassas, where they will be the guest,
until Monday morning of relatives o
| Surgeon General Rixey.
COrteIyou Gets a BIRD.
The president and party reached the tur
key blinds before daybreak and after eacl
had been stationed callers endeavored (
entice the willy birds within gunshot.
A drove of six turkeys finally was dis
covered and later one Of them fell to tn
. gun Of Secretary Cortelyou. Presiden
= Roosevelt was unfortunate in being tn
. only member Of the party who did not ge
r a shot during the morning. The turkey
are scarce and Mr.. Cortelyou's bird was tn
r only one bagged.
9 At noon the party assembled at the Henri
house for luncheon and for two hours of
=, terward the president walked over tn
I Bull Run battlefield, the points OF histori
: interest being indicated and explained b
6 Henry Zeen, who now occupies the Henri
= house.