The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-06-11
KNEW THE OLD YELL.
now Four Rough Riders Got the Ear OF
the President.

the President.
When the committee in charge OF tine
reception to the man who led the Rough
hlders first prepared its programme an
nour was set aside for the men who.
IKE the president, had gone into the
Dattle field to risk their lives Tor their
| nag Those who had worn the blue or
the Khaki in Cuba and in the Philip
pines met and arranged to give appro-
pirate greeting to Roosevelt. HE is
veteran like ourselves; he has received
ms baptism of fire." they said, and we
must welcome him as comrades ought
10 welcome a comrade.' Ihey had
canteen made Of gold and silver and
had the token inscribed with their mes
sage to him. This was to have been
handed to him at the armOry OF the
First regiment national guards COM
pany, put of which the first California
volunteers marched to the war. On
Monday word was delivered to the vet
Grams that they could not have any of
the Presidents time. New arrange
ments had been made-the committee
helped.
The veterans called a council and de-
clded to send one of their number to
the President himself They elected
George Z. Kingsbecause he had been a
member of Col Roosevelt's command
and could tell the man who had been on
the firing line with him exactly what
was wanted. King knew OF three 9th
ers who had been with the Rough Rid
ers IN Cuba and found them. The four
started for San Jose Friday afternoon
determined to see the President. They
had no badge of authority nor did they
have any card from any one high in of
tice. The delegation was made up of
Charles f. Hodgdon, J. H. Miner,
Luther d. Malone and King. They
climbed to the top of box past which
they had learned the Presidents car
riage would drive. Their stand was
near the railway depot. Soon the car
riage came along. The first gentleman
OF the land looked to right and left, tip
ping his hat and acknowledging the
greetings accorded him. AS he neared
the perch upon which the quartet of
ex-troopers had placed themselves one
OF them screamed out cowboy yell.
The President tossed back his head.
There was something in that yell that
oOOAiCo IoLlllltl w lllllI l1O SltthSOo
toward the man who had sent his mind
back to the days of his campaign in the
yellow. fever country and exclaimed:
Happy JackN'
Glow are you, colonel" asked HOdg-
don, who among the Rough Riders was
universally hailed by the name Roose-
welt called him.
Let Happy Jack come to me- said
the President Secret service men, es-
| corts of honor and police drew back. A
| rather careless looking man, CARRIED in
a khaki suit with yellow facings, moved
toward the carriage. Hodgdon wore the
uniform that Roosevelt had worn. The
President extended his hand.
you look WE'LL" he said between
teeth that smiled; chow are you?"
Great, Colonel" replied Hodgdon;
''three more of the boys are here with
me- They are crazy to see you"
I'm just as crazy to see Them, was
the Presidents reply. Bring them
with you to my car. I'm going into it
now and l want to renew acquaintance
ship with the four of YOU
The driver whipped up his team and
left Roosevelt at his White House on
wheels. Happy jack and his three
companions followed.
They entered the car and spent Is
minutes in chat with the President as
they smoked his cigars.
They told him of the disappointment
that more than 1900 eX-soldiers had felt
when they learned that the meeting at
the Armory in San Francisco had been
cut from the itinerary, and asked him
if he couldn't manage to get there any
how.
King says that when the conversation
reached this point. Roosevelt hesitated
a moment, and then sent for Secretary
Loeb.
I'm sure he was about to telegraph
word that he wanted to meet the vet
erans," said King. ''He changed his
mind, however, after thinking it over,
and decided to leave himself in the
hands of Mr.. deYoung and the San
Francisco committee"
Before leaving the men expressed
desire to meet him again, and told him
that it would be hard to get near him
unless they had something in the way
of pass. Acting upon the suggestion
he took one of Mahone's cards and upon
the back of it wrote
admit Luther ID. Malone, George
C. King, j. H. Miner and Happy
Jack" at (he wrote S.45 and then scratch
ed this time OUT at any tlme.'
He signed the card plainly, putting