The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-03

| dent Roosevelt at 9:05 this morning
start q on his wrs:-:n trip lnGei The
most favorable auspices. AS the spe-
cial train pulled out Of the Pennsylva-
mia station, the president stood on the
| platform of his private car, raising his
hat and smiling in response to the en-
thusiastic cheers of hundreds Of ad.
mirers and private friends.
/ AS early as o'clock, a crowd began
to gather at the White House 20 wit
ness the presidents departure. AS he
entered his carriage to drive to tho
station. the men made the historic
grounds echo with cheers, while women
waved their handkerchiefs and many
| Of them their hats.
Pennsylvania station and platforms
| were crowded with people anxious to
extend the chief magistrate their good
| wishes for a safe and successful jour-
ney. Notable precautions were taken
| to insure the safety Of the president.
| Uniformed officers. headquarters detec-
| tives. plain clothes men, and secret SER.
| vice operatives surrounded the presi-
dent and covered every point.
AS President Roosevelt alighted from
| his carriage, he was joined by Secre-
| tary Hitchcock and they walked down
! the station platform arm in arm, the
president stopping now and then to
| greet personal friends. He was attir-
ed in a black cutaway coat dark strip
fo1x l.
| He was in the best Of spirits and chat
ted enthusiastically with friends about
| the trip on which he was about to start
The most notable incident connected
| with the presidents departure arose out
| of the presence at the station of Ba-
ron Speck Won Sternburg, the German
minister. He was the only member of
| the diplomatic corps who went to the
depot to see the president off and the
| president greeted him most cordially
telling him that he greatly appreciated
the courtesy. During their chat, the
president asked the Baron whether he
would be here in June when he return
ed and upon receiving an affirmative
reply the president said:
THAT is good; we will have some
| long rides together"
The Baron told the president that his
| horses were in India and would not be
| here for some time. Instantly the
president turned and gave orders that
during his absence, his riding horses
and that of Mrs. Roosevelt should be
placed at the disposal of Baron and
| Baroness Won Sternburg. 81 should be
| very much pleased said he to the Ba-
ron eff you and the Baroness would
| ride them while I am away"
AS the train drew out the president
called: Good Dye, Baron, I appreci-
! ate your coming very much
Pittsburg, April 1.-President Roose-
| welt viewed the scenery aound the IA
| nous Horse Shoe curve this afternoon
| from a seat in the cab of a locomotive
attached to his special train, and after
| ride Of about fifty miles, expressed
| himself delighted with his experience.
| In the cab with him were Secretary
Loeb, Train Master A. E. Keiser, Spe-
| cial Engineer Robert McLaren, the reg
ular Engineer H T. Mccormick and
| Fireman H. w. Hunter AS he took
his seat the president remarked that,
| being a member of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen he thought ne
|
| furnace, but he did not do SO. At Cal
litzen, the President went back to his
car, rather dusty and grimy, but en-
thusistic over his novel ride. No record
breaking time was made while the pres
| ident sat in the cab, the speed of the
| train not reaching over forty-five miles
| an hour.
| Outside Of his ride on the engine, the
president passed an uneventful day,
devoting a large portion of it, to read
| ing. Brief stops We're made at Balti-
more, Harrisburg and Altoona, but only
at one place did the president make a
speech. A large crowd met his train
at Harrisburg and although no speech
was scheduled fer this place, President
Roosevelt appeared on the rear plat
form of his car and delivered a short
address, which was received with
| cheers
Ion