The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-10-23
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AT VICKs-
RIIRG

The president, fresh from his two
weeks hunt in the cane brakes oil
North Louisiana. arrived with the
reception committee on the steam.
boat "Belle of the Bends" from
Delta Point at 1850 p. m. The
Belle of the Bends was followed
by convoy of nine other craft,
and as soon as it entered the
Yazoo canal, the Warren Light
Artillery began firing a presiden
tial salute of 81 guns. When the
presidents boat landed at the
Vicksburg levy, all the steam
whistles and bells in the city and
on the river pealed forth a noisy
greeting to the Nations chief
magistrate and anxious thousands
thronged the river front to shout
their enthusiastic welcome.
This demonstration was follow
ed by the street parade, partici-
pated in by various military COM
panies of the Mississippi National
Guard, civil officers and distin-
guished citizens of the State.
The presidents carriage contain
ed the president, his private secre-
tary, Mr.. Latta, and Gen.
Stephen D. Lee, Commander of
the United Confederate Veterans,
and Mayor B. W. Griffith. APP
plauding thousands lined the
streets on which the procession
passed, and at the end of this part
of the program the president, ac-
companied by Gen. Lee, Mayor
Griffith and others, was driven
out to view the National Park and
National Cemetery.
At 4 O'Clock, an audience esti-
mated at eight to ten thousand,
assembled on the west side of the
court house square to hear the
presidents address. After a
speech of welcome by Mayor
Griffith, he was introduced to his
vast audience by Hon. John
Sharp Williams, United States
Senator, in one of Mr.. Williams,
happiest and best efforts.
President Roosevelt spoke near
ly an hour and was frequently in
terrupted by the most enthusiastic
applause, particularly during
those parts of his speech where he
declared that he felt that be was
the president of Mississippi, as
much as of any other State, pIedg-
led his best efforts to deepening
and levying the Mississippi river,
and where he paid tribute to !, the
bravery and gallantry, on the field
of battle, of Jefferson Davis and
other honored sons Of Mississippi.
The hearty Southern welcome
and cordial and enthusiastic greet
ing accorded the chief magistrate
of the Nation was evidently ex-
ceedingly gratifying to him and
his bearing aud his speech were
no less pleasing to his hosts.
Both had ample reason for feel
ing satisfied with the days events.
The people of Vicksburg did
themselves utmost credit not only
by the royal manner in which
they prepared and conducted the
presidential reception, but also by
the hospitable and cordial spirit
with which they entertained the
thousands of other strangers with
in their gates on that day.
The editor of The Leader de-
sires to make special acknowledg
ment of courtesies extended him
by Mr.. Geo. Williamson, former
ly of Brookhaven, but now con-
nected with the First National
Bank of Vicksburg, and by Mr..
E. A. Fitzgerald, of the Vicks-
burg Daily Herald. By the
thoughtful kindness of the former
we we're given the opportunity OF
viewing the approach of the pres.
ident's boat and the street parade
from the roof of the handsome
new Fourth National Bank Build
ing, the tallest in the Hill City,
and by friend Fitzgerald's kind
ness were furnished a comforta
BILE seat on the platform in con
venlent hearing and view of the
speakers.
Of some Of The subject matter
Of the presidents speech We will
speak later.
-s-
There is movement on foot to