Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-27
Magnolia With Party
Aboard Rammed by
Fruit Ship.
BEACHED FOR SAFETY
Rescued at 3 a. m. and Taken
to Cruiser to Com
plete Journey.


tender Magnolia. with president Roose-
velt on board was in n collision with
the fruit steamer Esparta. shortly al
ter midnight, about 80 mile. down the
river. News came through a message
from Capt. Rose of the Esparta. Rose
reported both vessels aground at the
river bank. No one was seriously hurt.
All of Party Snfe.
The president and all members of his
party are uninjured The light-hous:
tender Ivy. took the president and his
party off the Magnolia, and conveyed
them through the passes into the Gulf
of Mexico. where the cruiser West
Virginia awaited their arrival
Appealed for Help.
The first news of the accident reach
ed New Orleans by telephone at an
early hour this morning. coming in the
shape of an appeal for help from Cap
tain Rose of the fruit steamer Espar-
alta. The captain gave no details. ex-
cept the boats had struck each other.
that the president was uninjured. and
that the Magnolia was ashore The
message came from Nairn, La, near
which port the accident occurred.
Left at $3.50.
The Magnolia left here at 6:30 last
night and the Esparata was due to ar
rive today at Chalmette. The weather
was fine with a comparatively light
wind on the river.
Immediately upon receipt of the news
here two powerful tugs were dispatch.
ed with orders TO go at full speed to
hn of
Ivy Dispatched.
Meantime hurry orders were recciy.
ed at Pilot Town, where the revenue
cutter Ivy was lying, to proceed at
once under full speed to the scene of
the accident. The Ivy Immediately
got under way and covered the 40
miles in rapid time. President Roose-
welt, Secretary Loeb and Surgeon Rix.
ie. with their baggage, were at once
transferred and the Ivy proceeded
down the river.
At 40 a wireless message was re-
ceive from the cruiser West Virginia.
saying the presidential party had board
ed the vessel safe and sound
Confusion of signals.
The collision between the fruit
occurred through confusion OF sig.
nails The Magnolia sustained two or
three holes in the hull below the water
line and was beached high and dry.
After a careful examination of the ves-
sci gave evidence there was no danger,
the presidential party went to bed.
Transferred at A. VI.
Mai. Craighill aboard the Magnolia.
sent orders by telephone to have his
ship the Ivy. come to- the point where
the accident occurred. The transfer
Of the presidential party was made at
3 O'Clock this morning. No one was
injured in the accident. II Is believed
the Magnolia can make the necessary
repairs and return 10 New Orleans.
Leaves New Orleans.
New Orleans. Oct. 27.--At the end
Of the nine strenuous hours varied
entertainment in New Orleans, which
brought his exceptionally pleasant trip
through the south to close. President
Roosevelt at $50 last night boarded
the lighthouse tender Magnolia and
began the first stage of his return
Journey to Washington.
Four Days ON Water.
For four days he will be absent from
American soil. which has never hereto
fore happened to a president during
mis- term, but through means OF wire
less telegraphy it is promised that he
will be seldom out of communication
with the shore.
Abandoned a Meeting.
Probably for the first time in his
public career. a president was COM
PEELED TO abandon a public address
before he had got well started on it.
II was contemplated that a military
and civic parade should pass in re-
view before the president at the city
hall In New Orleans yesterday after
noon. but the crowd which gathered
at this point was 80 tremendous that
neither police nor troops were able TO
move IL, and the president foreseeing
possible catastrophe in the event OF
a panic finally gave up the attempt 10
speak and left the platform. Probably
80 600 people were gathered In and
around the stand from which the pres.
ident was TO have delivered the ad