The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-28
ROOSEVELT IN STORM TRIP TO MOUNT VERNON Has Rough Ride Through
 Mud Up the
 Heights.

Washington, May 27-A badly muu- bespattered party, at the head of which was President Roosevelt, got off car of the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric railway here shortly before o'clock this afternoon. They had been on q visit to Mount Vernon, part of the trip being by horse back, and had been caught in heavy shower. As the result of the storm the roads were in fearful condition, and as the riders progressed they were splashed from head to foot With mud. The other members of the party, be- sides the president, were Mrs. Roose- welt, Miss Ethel Roosevelt, Postmas- ter-G General Meyer and Captain Fitz- hugh Lee, one of the presidents mill tary aides. The clothing of the entire party was drenched. The trip in many respects was ''rough-ridlng' one.
 The president has explored on horse back much of the country about Wash ington lying north of the Potomac riv- CT He also has made occasional visits across the river. He was anxious, however, to make the longer trip to Mount Vernon and several days ago planned to-day's excursion. The day broke cloudy and heavy, but by 10 o'clock the sun began to shine dlmly through the clouds and the prospects seemed good for fair weather. The party accordingly started at Il o'clock. The distance from Washington to Mount Vernon is sixteen miles. The trip to Alexandria was made by trolley in half an hour.
 At the clty's outskirts the presidents orderly, McDermott, was awaiting the party with five good saddle horses. It took but a few minutes for the party to mount and get off.
 They had cantered along the road, however, but few miles when se- were storm overlook them. They did not have time to find shelter before all of them got drenched almost to the skin. Finally they espied an unoccu- pied farmhouse along the roadside and sought shelter under the 'lean-to" at the rear for half an hour Covering in the outbuildings also was found for the horses. There was remarkably heavy downpour of rain and vivid flashes of lighting, accompanied by peals of | thunder.
 Rain was still falling lightly as the party again took up the trip to Mount | Vernon, which was reached about 2 l o'clock, almost an hour behind the scheduled time. Here Colonel Dodge, the superintendent. of the grounds, gave them a cordial welcome, showed them over the grounds, about 2,0O0 acres in all, and through the mansion and the various buildings.
 | There were a number of visitors at Mount Vernon and the president shook I hands with them. Lunch was served : in the old house used as kitchen on state occasions. in colonial times, but 1 now occupied as dining room. Colo mel Dodge was one of the party at lunch,
 The guests were ready to return to Washington at half-past three o'clock
 but again a rain set in and delayed them for fifteen minutes. Then the sun shone again and the party set off for 1 Washington.
 "The ride up to Alexandria was slip pery and muddy" said one of the party I tonight, "but there were no mishaps and we had the bright sunlight with us all the way up to Washington.D
 At Alexandria number of people were assembled, to whom the president bowed his acknowledgements There
 the presidential party boarded the spe-
 cial car for the remaining seven miles.
 President Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt
 and Miss Ethel at once went to the
 White house, where the president re- sumed his work at the executive offices.
 He showed every evidence of having thoroughly enjoyed his outing.