The Washington herald., 1906-11-28

Incidents Of the Journey.
President ROOsevelt's enthusiasm over
the superiority of the American navy
found expression yesterday in glowing
accounts Of the sea trip on the battle
ship Louisiana to Panama and Porto
Rico. It was almost the sole topic OF
conversation at the meeting Of the Cabi-
net There was not hint Of seasickness.
The weather was delightful, and the wa
ters comparatively smooth. The farewell
speech which the President made TO the
officers and enlisted men of the Louisiana
was given out from the White House
Perhaps the jolliest incident Of the voy-
age was an entertainment on board the
Louisiana on the evening Of November
p. 1t was a show planned, produced, and
managed by the enlisted men. The Pres
ident Mrs. Roosevelt, and other members
Of the party, the officers Of the ship and
the nonparticipating jackies constituted
the audience.
The stage was built at the extreme end
OF the stern deck, and was fitted with
electric lights. curtains. drops, and all
proper accessories for giving a first-Class
theatrical performance. The guests Of
honor and the officers were given seats
down front Behind them on the deck
and on the turrets. the bridge. and even
the fighting tops. the sailor boys were
crowded.
In speaking of this performance the
President said: ut was one Of the best
shows I ever saw in my life. and 1t would
have done credit TO professionals
The President said the show ended with
three rafting good boxing matches. only
TWO We're on the original programme. but
they threw in one more for good measure.
Fast Run on Hatteras.
The President says that it was OF Hat
teras when the Captain Of the Louisiana
let her out" and a speed of eighteen
and a half knots was reached. The
cruiser Washington dropped behind, but
the Tennessee simply played with the
Louisiana as the President expressed
It. To show her going powers the Ten
nessee came up abreast Of the Louisiana,
dropped far % the stern. steamed in wide
arcs of 20 either side. and then came up
again even with her nose. 4 believe that
every sh.p I'm the new navy can show
much better than her contract speed"
said the President, in discussing the per-
formances Of the squadron And I be-
heve as firmly as / know / am sitting
here, that you can't find the EQUALS of
pur sailors, officers, and enlisted men fin
my navy ahcat." The President said he
thought that very few Iandsmen ap-
praises the navy at quite its proper value.
He thinks il pretty good, that after
d. thirty years in uniform man can retire
on 500 a year.
There was very little Of the battle ship
that the President didn't inspect He took
dinner with the petty officers and attend
ed a meeting in the warrant officers club
down near the keel He made a speech
Of cOngratulation TO the officers and crew.
and said he was surprised and delighted
TO discover that the gunners on the bat
tie ship have brand-new method Of
loading the 6-inchers. He could not tell
what il was, because he was pledged to
secrecy
StOker in the Fire-roOm
Just before the vessel reached the Vir-
ginia Ca2es, according TO dispatch from
Newport News, the President descended
into the freroom and fired the after-boiI-
er No. 3. The LoUisiana's hremen said
that the President expressed a desire to
descend into the firerOom and mingle with
the fremen and the stOkeTs, who labOred
there so earnestly in the excessive heat.
He was conducted down the ladder into
the depths Of the ship TO No. fire room.
There he spoke TO the men and shook
hands with them. expressing 4 wish to
fire one OF the boilers one Of the big
shovels used by the fremen was speedily
provided, the great door was thrown open
and the President of the United States
prepared 10 throw coal into the fiery fur
mace.
Mr Roosevelt sank his shovel deep into
the coal TO the utter disregard Of his
wearing apparel and swung the shovel
full IN the direction Of the open furnace
door. A lUrch Of the ship caused the first
shot to miss fire, for instead Of striking
the hole, the shovel fun of coal struck
the boiler head and rolled upon the fire
room floor. The President laughed heart
lily over his first failure. but undaunted.
he sailed into the coal pile again with
renewed vigor
This time success rewarded him. and
the effort was as clean a performance
as it was possible to make with coal
OnIOOkers Applaud Him.
The onIookers applauded and the Pres
ident looked pleased He Indicated his
pleasure by tackiing the coal pile again.
and repeated his successful performance.
Then the big door swung to on its hinges.
the President shook hands all around
again while he received the congratula-
tons Of the regular firemen. and then
climbed back to the deck, a little the
worse for wear. but flushed with his ex-
periences.
Nr Crank. chief engineer Of the Louisi-
ana, captured the shovel and locked il
up in his quarters He IS having the
implement carefully packed al Newport
News for shipment by express to the
President as a souvenir of the occasion.
HIS Farewell speech
There was made public from the White
House last night a copy Of the farewell
speech delivered by President Roosevelt
to the officers and enlisted men on the
battle ship Louisiana, as the vessel was
passing Hatteras. In his speech, the
President said:
IT wish TO thank you for as pleasant
and interesting a trip as any President
has ever had on land or sea- and a
profitable trip, too Not only I do not see
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