The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-01
STREET PARADE
Immense ThrOnSs of People and the
Military Turned Out to Greet Both
Distinguished Americans They
Are Guests of Mr.. Francis-Roose-
Welt Spoke at the Good Roads Ma
tiOnal Convention Yesterday After
nOOn-LOuisiana Purchase ExpOsi-
ton Dedication.

St. Louis 29.-PreSident Roosevelt ar
in the dedication ceremonies of the
Louisiana purchase exposition.
1t was expected generally that he
would leave his train at the union sta
ton and a dense throng had congregat-
ed there. But to avoid just such an
assemblage, arrangements We're made
Junction, three miles from the center
of the city.
Members of the national commission
of the worlds fair, a reception commit
tee, headed by President Francis and a.
crowd of spectators were present to
welcome the president, President
Francis, of the Louisiana Purchase
exposition. seized the hand of the presi-
dent and gave him an informal well
come to st. Louis. Mayor Wells and
others shook hands with the president
who was at once driven off to the good
roads convention. Just as the carriage
started, a middle aged woman rushed
through the line of officers, wildly
waving her handkerchief and vocifer-
ously cheering the president. She at
tempted to reach in and seize his hand,
but the quickening pace of the horses
prevented, and, although she ran after
the vehicle, still cheering and waving
her handkerchief for the distance OF
half block she was finally distanced
and lost in the crowd.
The military companies and a platoon
| Of police had been waiting two blocks
away, and as soon as the line of carri-
| ages appeared a slower march was
| taken up to- cOeer the three miles to
| Oden Hall. People were cOngregated
along the streets and wildly cheering
| as the president passed. He continual
ly DOTTED his hat in acknowledgment.
| The hall was packed with a crowd
which had been waiting patiently for
hours. The president spoke of good
roads in tones which showed, as we'll
as his words, that he was thoroughly
in sympathy with the objects Of the
association.
Roads" he declared, tell the great
| ness of a nation. The influence of the
nations which have not been road build
ers has been evanescent. Rome, the
| most powerful of til older civilizations,
left her impress on literature and
speech, she changed the boundaries of
nations, but palmer than anything else
left to remind us of the Roman civili-
zation, are the Roman roads"
At this point in the presidents speech
the crowd rose and cheered. waving
handkerchiefs and hats.
The president declared that good
roads probably We're the greatest
agency for regulating the flow from the
country to the city of young men and
young women.
From Oden Hall the president was
driven al a sharp trot to st. Louis Uni
versity. A few minutes were spent
!. here. after which the president and 9TH
er guests repaired to the home of Pres
ident Francis for dinner.
OVATION FOR CLEVELAND.
! President Cleveland arrived over the
Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern at
$50 o'clock. % minutes late. and a re-
ception committee was Wanting for
? him. The members Of the diplomatic
/ corps arrived shortly before. AS Mr..
Cleveland alighted from the train. he
| was warmly greeted by President
Francis. who had driven rapidly to the
depot after greeting President Roose-
! welt at Forsyth Junction The mem
bers of the committee crowded around
and Mr.. Cleveland was unable to pro-
{ ceed for several minutes. so thick was
a the throng about him. A passage was
t | finally cleared and with President
4 Francis he walked through the aisles
formed by the crowd and entering a
! carriage was driven to the residence OF
i | President Francis, where President
q Roosevelt is also guest.