The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-28
PRESIDENT HAD FUN AT SEA,
BOXING TOURNEY PLEASED HIM
MORE TEAM ANYTHING.


Petty 0ricers Dined Hin and the
Louisiana Did Some Speed Stunts
Thanked Them AlIln Farewell speech.
WASHINGTON; Nov. IA good many
more interesting things happened TO Presi-
dent Roo sevelt on his trip to the tropics
than the press dispatches from the Isthmus
and Porto Rico told about. The reason for
this silence on the part OF the press de-
spatches was that the unnarrated things
happened on board the battleship Louisiana.
The President was full Of them to-day.
He told them to the members Of his bin
at their official meeting and he told them
to visitors. II anybody could get a verba-
tim account from the President Of what be
saw and heard and did on the Louisiana,
told in Mr.. Roosevelt's inimitable way. and
put it into a book the volume would sell
like hot cakes.
0 n November %, while the Louisiana was
on her way from Ponce to Hampton Roads.
the ships company gave a vaudeville an
tertainment in honor of the President an
Mrs. Roosevelt. The stage was set on the
after deck, upon which there was room
enough also for the two guests of honor.
Surgeon General Rixey, Assistant Score
tary Latta, Lieut.. Evans, the Presidents
aide; Capt. Couden OF the Louisiana, the
other officers Of the ship and some of the
crew.
Most Of the crew were perched on the
after gun turret, the superstructure and
the after bridge, while more Of the blue
jackets and marines had points Of vantage
in the fighting top. The Louisiana ploughed
along at a good clip while the performance
was going on. All who took part in the
show were enlisted men, and they got plenty
of applause from the President and the
members of his party.
The first thing on the rather elaborate
programme was an overture by the ships
orchestra. Chief Yeoman Josh Alderman
and Coxswain Chum Ward gave a farcical
sketch called "Skidoo and %
Mate A. DUDE and Ordinary Seaman +. d.
Dickinson, dressed as tramps, did a slack
wire stunt, and there was a sketch with
four characters. one Of them impersonat-
ing q woman. 1t was called The st. Louis
Fa ir Hotel"
The President listened attentively to a
stump speech by Coal Passer B. f. With
and a monologue, The Troubles Of a He
brew, ;" by Coal Passer /. Rosenthal. As a
delicate reference to a member of the Presi-
dent family Bandmaster G.. Di Giovanni
played Alice, Where Art Thou?" on a saxo-
phone. There were in addition songs and
clogs and other entertaining things.
But the thing nearest to the Presidents
heart came last. This was a boxing tour
nament. The enthusiasm over the bouts
wasn't confined to the enlisted men. Sea-
man M. A. Mccormick and Painter I.
Ls"sey.put on the gloves first and went at
it tor. four rounds. Then Bos'n's Mate j.
Eglit 'and Gunner's Mate II. NJ. Stratton
took a turn. The bouts worked up tue
spectator to such a high state OF excite
mel. that another set-to not on the pro
gr anime was arr anged and pr owed mighty
interesting.
On another day the President toe dinner
with the chief petty officers and attended
a meeting of the Louisiana garrison of tho
Regular Army and Navy Union with a mem
bership composed Of officers and enlisted
men. lie took much intere st in the blue
Jackets and warrant officers who were
studying for promotion and extended
encouragement to them; and he got Lieut.
Osterhaus, one OF the Louisanas officers,
to FIX plain a new device of the L~ieutenant's
for loading 7 inch guns rapidly. which the
President told the visitors to-day was some
thing truly wonderful.
When the Louisiana neared the Virginia
Capes yesterday morning the President
told Capt. Couden to -let her out a little
and with forced draught on for part OF the
time the big battleship skipped along at q
tremendous clip, making an average speed
Of 1877 knots, or a half knot more h
she was built TO do. For a vessel that bad
been going hard for three weeks the Presi-
dent regarded this az a marvellous per-
Torrance. The President was filled with
admiration also Of the speed qualities OF
the armored cruisers Washington and
Tennessee, which acted as the Louisiana's
conveys. Just to show how easy it was,
the Tennessee would run up occasionally
to the Louisiana at a twenty-five knot gait
and then drop back with a swagger.
The President was chock full OF admir-
ing comment to-day when he talked about
the navy and its officers and men, and
he didn't forget the Marine Corps. He
told persons whom he saw that it was q
splendid navy, and he believed the officers
and men were the best in the world. lie
couldn't say too much in their praise.
Yesterday, along about l o'clock, while
the Louisiana was moving through the
calm waters Of Chesapeake Bay on the
last leg Of her voyage, the President made
a speech TO the officers and crew OF the
Louisiana. His remarks were reported In
shorthand by Assistant Secretary Latta
and we're given out at the White House
tonight. This is what the President said:
Captain and officers and enlisted men OF
the Louisiana: ! wish to thank you for as
pleasant and interesting a rip as any Presi-
dent has ever had on land or sea. and a profit
able trip. too. Not only I do not see how any
President. but ] do not see how any good
American can fail TO believe with all his heart
In the United States Navy, can fail to do all
that in him lies for the officers and men Of
that navy. in order that the navy itself may
be brought to a constantly increasing stats
of perfection as a formidable fighting ma
chine. This is the third Of our great ships on
which l have spent some time. the other two
being the West Virginia and the Missouri.
l am very proud OF the ships; l am even
prOuder of the men aboard the ships.
Captain. | want to thank you for your hos
pitality; | want to thank the wardroom; I
want tn thank the chief notify ofHcara' uaas