The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-04-04
STARTED ON HIS JAUNT.
President Roosevelt Leaves the Cap
ital on His Fourteen Thou
sand Mile Trip.
HAS A HANDSOMELY EQUIPPED TRAIN.
Hundreds Gathered at the White
rouse ana Mt the Railroad sta
ton 10 hid Him God Speed. Prom
inent Among Them Being the
German Minister

Washington, April 2.-President
Roosevelt, at 9:Oj Wednesday morn
ing, started on his western trip I'M
der the most favorable auspices. As
the special train pulled out of the
Pennsylvania station the president
stood on the platform of his car. tip
ping his hat and smiling in response
to the enthusiastic cheers of hun.
dreds of admirers.
As early as eight o'clock crowd
began TO gather at the White House
TO witness the presidents departure
AS he entered his carriage TO drive
to the station the men made the his
toric grounds echo with cheers. while
women waved their handkerchiefs.
and many of them their hats.
Crowd at the station.
Ike Pennsylvania station and plat
forms were crowded with people anx.
louS to extend to the president their
good wishes for safe and successful
journey. Notable precautions were
taken to insure the safety of the
president. The police arrangements
were under the personal supervision
of Commissioner West and Chief
Sylvester Uniformed officers, detec-
tives, plain clothes men and secret
service operatives surrounded the
president and covered every point.
AS president Roosevelt alighted
from his carriage he was joined by
Secretary Hitchcock, and they walked
down the platform arm in arm, the
president stopping now and then to
greet friends. He was attired in a
black cutaway coat, dark-striped
trousers, and wore black felt hat
He was in the best Of spirits, and
chatted enthusiastically about the
trip. Near his car he met Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, the German
minister, who had come TO see him
off. The two had several minutes
conversation, the president thanking
the minister for his thoughtfulness
in coming to the station.
The Family All Absent.
No member Of the presidents i'm.
mediate family, except his sister.
Mrs, Cowles, was at the station, Mrs.
Roosevelt and the young children be-
ing down the Chesapeake bay on the
Mayflower. and Miss Alice on her
way home from Porto Rico. Several
81
Secretaries Cortelyou, Wilson and
Hitchcock. were present. The presi-
dent and Secretarc Cortelyou chatted
several minutes, the president eX-
pressing his regret that the secretary
was not to accompany him. Other
members Of the cabinet had taken
their formal leave Of the president at
the White House Among other no.
table people at the station to see the
president off were Assistant Secre-
tary Of State Loomis Col. Theodore
\ Bingham, Capt W. S. Cowlcs, Sec
ond Assistant postmaster-Gcncrsl
Shallenberger and District Commits
sioner West.
Hngnihccntly Equipped Train.
The train is one Of the finest ever
run out Of Washington on the Penn
sylvania railroad, handsomely
equipped and manned by crew Of
picked men, The only change in the
personnel Of the party as heretofore
announced was that John Mccoy
went as special representative Of the
Pennsylvania railroad, instead Of {.
Il. Rosenberg. In addition TO those
officially designated as members OF the
presidents party, three secret service
men and two post Office inspectors
accompanied the president as u per-
souol bodyRuord The journey rs
planned, will occupy nine weeks and
three days, and the party will travel
little more than $4,000 miles.