Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-04-27
PRESIDENT STANDS ON TABLE
Splendid Address Delivered by Naons Chief Executive in His
Characteristic SfyIe-ReMew of Troops on Lees Pa
rade-Thiry-seven Countries Represent
ed-Day Success Beyond Hopes
of the Most Optimistic.

Portsmouth, and Il dozen OF more de.
tachments of bluejackets, under ma.
val officers, all of the commands he
ing headed by their bands. The line
was passing the reviewing stand for
half an hour
Crowd on the Grounds.
All day long the grounds were
crowded. A large number OF people
could not have been handled well, but
the arrangements were so perfect
that the $4,000 were Accommodated
without difficulty.
Fortunately. by strenuous efforts
Governor of Works Cottrell succeed
ed in having the board walk. extend
ing from the pier at l04th street to
Willonghbyl boulevard. in front of the
States exhibits buildings, completed
before the gates were thrown open.
This made II wonderful Improvement
.ssI Day of flotabIe incidents.
From the firing Ct a sunrise salute
OF 30a guns. through The picturesque
beauty of the I.Nifw Of the inteina-
tional fleet OF var Vessels anchored
iii Hampton Roa,is. the Gel emonIes or
dedication ut which me President
spoke and down to a late hour last
night Wien the Chief executive re-.
paired abnarG the naval yacht Syiph
to spend the night in the lower bay,
The day was crowded with notable in
cidents.
Not the least impressive of the
days events was the quick action OF
the President in assuming command
OF the situation In front of the crowd
ed grandstand from which he spoke
TO the surging throng of spectators.
Pressed against the guard ropes by
thousands OF eager persons in the
rear gathering who We're forcing their
way forward, the safety OF life ana
limb OF those who had the more favor.
able positions were endangered.
President Roosevelt had Just been in.
troIuced by Hon. Harry ST. George
Tucker when the disorder and un.
rest in the crowd reached it's height
and the civil guards in front of the
grand stand seemed about to be
swept from their posts.
President Takes Command.
With the agility of a school boy,
the President jumped ipon the table
which had been placed in the speak.
ers balcony and, waving his arms,
cried out TO the men of Virginia 10
live up TO their traditions of gallant.
ny and cease the pushing ana crowd.
ing which was threatening the lives
OF the women and children in the as.
semblage which blocked the grass
covered plaza known as Lees Parade
The crowd needed the Presidents
warning at hrst, but when he had set
tea down into his speech and the
words We're fairly blown from his
mouth by the southeastern gale
winch was sweeping the great par.
ade. the immense audience became
uneasy again and those on tho orr.
sRirtS began to press forward in Their;
anxiety to catch the words. wbicb
were being borne away I'm the bIi,s.
tering summer wind ~
Interrupted the President. .
me president was interrupted. and
mounted officers and the men of the
iWeltth cavalry were called on TO
take charge. They rode up and down
alons the front of the crowd anQ
sLaaiaIly opened 1t up and relieved
. me pressure, which at one time
threatened to hurl an avalanche of
humanity against the Presidents
STAND ana the boxes occupied by the
uistngulsned members of the diplo.
,na.ic corps. A detachment of artIl.
lerymen on foot also was called into
service. and the thousands who came
10 see and hear the President at LAST
settled down into a peacefnl assan,
.blage. "ssei'i'
apparently obiivious to the usual
position he occupied on top OF n
somewhat shaky table not more than
, Two rect wide and twice that meas.
,.1,, IN length, President Roose.
lmpromptu platform. ''''s'
Nor did the slenderness of his hosa
interfere in the slightest deerea win
me characteristic vigor or dai,var,,
Fart of the time he faced the mn,.
. .i.aae In front of the nag dronner
stand, and with fash he wnnla
wheel ,i around and address the die.
'ihguished visitors and invited guests