The Washington times., 1906-07-29
Thousands of Curious PeO-
pie Greet Arrival of Stand
ard Oil King.
LAST MAN DOWN GANGPLANK
Young John D. Has Close Call IN
Attempt to Be First Man
Aboard Ship.


Aboard Ship.
NEW YORK, July 2S.-After eight
days of rain and fog, a most unpleasant
voyage throughout, John ID. Rockefeller
today returned home on the Hamburg
American line steamship Amerika, com
plotting vacation Of two months abroad,
all OF which time was spent IN Com
piegnC. France. hfty-tw0 miles from
Paris, where Mrs Strong, Mr.. Rookie
feller's invalid daughter. Is residing dur
ms the summer
The AmeTika locked by the Hoboien
pier at 12.30 o'clock. There were no
Ohio sheriffs In waiting. and no surprises
OF any kind, although il was evident
that Mr.. Rockefeller was expecting
something out of the ordinary When
the big liner reached Quarantine. Staten
Island. and II was announced aboard
ship that the revenue cutter. with the
customs officers and a band Of news
papeTmen, was approaching, the oil king
went 10 his stateroom and remained
there.
Would Not See Reporters.
The other members OF the Rockefeller
party, including Mrs. Rockefeller and
DR.. Higgar. stood by the railing during
the "trip up New York bay and the
Hudson river 10 the Hoboken pier. But
Mr.. Rockefeller denied himself 20 the
interviewers. lie remained in his state
room several minutes after the boat
was landed. and was the last passenger
to trip over the gangplank.
AEha1 rEa liner Fr5 v-raF I'm - her 11rlF
John D. Rockefeller. jr.. was in the first
rank 10 be seen by the eager crowd on
the pier. He was the first to try to
board the ship. and his eagerness came
near resulting in a serious accident
which might have cost his life.
When the gangplank was showed out
from the pier young Rockefeller dashed
on. ON IT, The shoremen shouted
warning to him. but he kept on. Near
the end Of the plank his weight tipped
it. and but for the strong arms at the
other end he would have been dropped
into the river When the plank tilted
young Rockefeller seized the handran
and hurried back 20 the pier. He sup
pressed his eagerness until the word
was given that everything was all right,
and then rushed forward. the first 70
/ board the ship.
Oil King in Good Fettle.
/ He went TO his fathers stateroom.
| where ne remained in conference for
| several minutes. It IS probable he as
/ sured his parent he was in no danger
| of subpoena servers. AT any rate. when
/ all the other passengers were of the
! boat Mr. Rockefeller made his appear
/ ance. lie walked with a springy step
/ and looked like the picture OF health
and good nature
/ His son and DR.. Biggar accompanied
! him TO the pier and 10 the automobiles
! that We're 10 carry the party away. Mr..
/ Rockefeller had experienced no difficulty
/ with the customs officers and was not
| delayed
| On the pier were several thousand
/ persons including number OF vow
ayers who had made the acquaintance
/ Of the rich man and who waited for his
! appearance on American soil To bid him
goodbye. Mr.. Rockefeller shook hands
with several of them. saying he had en-
/ joyed their companionship very much
! As he walked down the long pier to-
ward the carriage stand 10 Hoboken,
/ detective sergeants. one on either side
guarded him, and cleared path through
/ eagerly forward 10 catch a glimpse of
/ the great man OF finance. A baggage
/ hustler hustled across in front OF Mr.
Rockefeller and a wheel narrowly missed
I his toe.
Frightened Baggageman.
Get out of the way" savagaIy shout
ed one of the IIobokeu sleutha. and af-
ter giving one look the baggageman.
who was more frightened than Mr.
Rockefeller deserted his trunk aad
skunk away into the crowd
To the newspapermen ne said very lit
tie. although he was agreeable.
Did you enjoy yourself?" he was
asked
VERY much" he replied. II am sor-
~ YOU could not all have been with me
Golf? Yes, l enjoyed my golf playing
very much, ia like to teach you all
how 10 play"
'Wil you say anything about that
Findlay (Ohio) suit, in which your
lawyer has given bondls for your APP
pearance2" he was asked.
What can I say?' replied Mr. Rookie
Teller You see. 1 have been away.
and / have to get posted before I am
in a position to say anything"
The Rockefeller party was driven to
the HobOken ferry in two automobiles
A crowd Of about thirty boys ran along
side OF the motor car in which Mr. and
Mrs. Rockefeller were riding. At the
ferry gate there was a ten minutes
wait. and when the boys came close TO
get a good look at the richest man in
the world he addressed them kindly.
Praised NewsbOys.
Are you not tired. boys?' he began.
1T is too hot to run so far and so fast.
You should take hetter care OF your
/ health. ! see that a number of you are
newsboys, and / want to say that the
newsboys generally are an enterprising
/ lot and We can expect great men from
among them. Don't be afraid to work
| Thrift makes great men"
From the Twenty third street ferry in
Manhattan the party drove to the Buck
ingham Hotel, where they lunched, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Rockefeller rested for an
hour before taking the train
On the ferrybcat and on the Hamburg
American pier, Mr. Rockefeller seemed
10 take great interest in the work of
the camera men who were irving to
get snap shots of him