Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-04-27
ROUGH RIDER GREETING
How the President Met His Men
at San Antonio.
AN INFORMAL RECEPTION HELD

All of the Women Presented Were
Made Happy by Complimentary
references to Their Relatives Who
Fought With the President - Ex-
Rough Riders Daughter Touched
by Stories Of Her Fathers Courage,
President Roosevelt will not soon for
get his last reunion with the rough
riders at San Antonio, Tex, says O
Frederick (Okla.) correspondent Of the
Chicago Inter Ocean. Now that the
president has gone hunting and San
Antonio visitors have returned to their
homes, the jewellers by the historic
Alama are doubtless catching their
breath n indulging in "reminiscences.
The proceedings at the rough riders
camp the day the president visited it
were Of the most informal character.
The president greeted the members Of
his old regiment who came up singly
and in pairs and in groups. The scene
that was then presented could proba-
~ hoNC OCCL1 SCCu ILL III OulCI GULL
try. There stood the president of the
United States surrounded by men who
formerly served with him and whose
chief desire on earth was now to show
him how much they enjoyed seeing him
again. When the rough riders first
commenced to press around the presi-
dent the secret service men moved
away.
"Why, jim" the president exclaimed
as a brawny man In yellow pressed for
ward and grasped his hand, "I'm SO
glad to see you. I certainly would have
been disappointed if you hadn't Gomez!
How have you been anyway? And
here's Charley. Charley, do you re-
member that mess Of green corn you
rustled for me that morning? The day
vas a whole lot easier because Of that
green corn.
Remember your as Lewis MAYER
lex Of Texas came up. "Of course I re-
member you. I used to say often that
the regiment would never have been
complete If it hadn't had a Maverick In
it.
"Bless my soul, Henry Bardshoe, how
do you do? I would certainly have been
disappointed If you hadn't come. I'm
glad to see you. Do you remember the
time you nursed me and the time you
got me that poncho? 1t would certainly
have been a whole lot colder that night
if 1t hadn't been for that poncho."
Bardshoe Is from Arizona. He served
as Colonel Roosevelt's orderly in Cuba.
A trooper whose horse bad fallen on
him on the hard pavement around the
plaza limped up. His foot had been
pretty badly bruised, but he had spent
some minutes soaking it In ice water,
and it felt better now, he assured 1.-THE
colonel"
my ma is here" he said, after the
president had greeted him and chaffed
him about the accident, "and she shore
would be glad to see you"
"See her? OF course I'll see her"
was the hearty response. Bring her
up in three-quarters Of an hour, and I'll
tell her how good a soldier her son
was"
The trooper and his ma" it develop
ed later, had driven overland scores Of
miles and travelled by train several
hundreds more to see "the colonel" A
number Of ladies, wives and relatives
of the various members of the regi-
ment, approached.
Nov, here" said the president, fare
the only people I'd rather meet than
my rough riders"
The ladies' were presented, and each
was made happy by some compliment
tary reference to the relative who serv-
ed with the regiemnt.
"My boys certainly show a great deal
of discrimination in selecting their
wives and women relatives said the
president at II juncture.
The daughter Of one Of the ex-rough
riders was presented to the president a
little later. He told her stories of her
glowing compliments that tears sprang
to the girls eyes and rolled down her
cheeks.
do you wonder that we love him?'
said n of the boys. "Why. we'd go
to hades for him.
This informal reception lasted for a
half hour or so. Then a trumpeter
sounded the mess call. AS the notes
rang out more thar one trooper chant
ed:
Soupee. Soupee, soupee
Without any beans,
SOupee. Soupee, Soupe
Without any greens.
And it is not absolutely certain that
the president himself didn't hum
something Of the kind. The menu
consisted Of roast beef. mashed pota-
toes, corn, beans, coffee. preserves and
apples. The president ate heartily and
appeared to enjoy every mouthful.
After finishing his meal he left the
mess tent and proceeded to a nearby
pavilion, where a reception to the
rough riders was held. The men march
ed In. stood around In a circle, uncov-
cred, and for nearly an hour heard the
president indulge in "reminiscences Of
the most personal character.
The president met in Frederick.
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