The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-02
CAUGHT IN RAIN.
PRESIDENT Roosevelt and Party
Drenched in st. Louis
Hhiie Heading a Parade Across
the City.
IN SOAKING CLOTHES
He Delivered His Speech at
Jai Alai Building
To an Audience of Ten ThOus-
and People.

St. Louis, Oct 2-welcomed by
screaming whistles, changing bells,
laundering intonations of bursting
bombs and the hurrahs from thousands
of human throats. President Roosevelt
landed at st. Louis at 9:47 O'Clock this
morning, marking the first stop of his
voyage down the Mississippi river from
Keokuk to Memphis, where he Will at
tend the lakes to the gulf deep water
way association convention Friday. The
cruise is the presidents active response
to a general invitation from the COVER
nors of the states along the Mississippi
river given in the belief that he Will
be so impressed with the enormous
waste of freight carrying energy that
he will exert powerful influence in IA
vor of committing the government to
act with definite and larger spirit tow
ard deepening the great inland chan
nels for navigation by ocean going
craft.
The entrance of the steamer, Missis-
sippi, bearing the president into the
harbor of st. Louis was announced by
the firing of bombs and blowing OF
whistles. Tens of thousands of persons
lined both shores of the river and across
Eads bridge, the main view point,
stretched a chain of humanity, solldly
packed from the Illinois to the Missouri
side.
With the stately lines of a-naval review,
the escorting steamboats, maintained
their
to the point of landing at the foot OF
Olive street, where they halted. The
Mississippi steamed on down to the
end of the course. and then returned,
plowing slowly up stream to erect
landing.
The President Lands.
AS President Roosevelt stepped ashore
he was welcomed by 10 governors from
various states, congressman and city
dignitaries. The morning had dawned
bright and clear but by o'clock clouds
began to gather. Efforts were MADE 10
rush the programme along because OF
the threatening weather. The line OF
procession was quickly formed for the
drive to the Jai Alai building In the
western portion of the city nye miles
from the river where the president was
to deliver his speech A GORDON OF
mounted police led the way, tnen
company of United States cavalry and
the presidents carriage containing also |
Mayor Wells and three secret service
men. Following came % carriages bear |
ing the visiting governors ana o1ner
dignitaries, with military band ana
two companies of infantry from Jef-
ferson Barracks bringing up the rear.
Ry the time the procession had pro- |
ceeded eight blocks the skies opened |
and the president and his welcoming I
hosts were instantly drenched. The |
horses were whipped up and regard /
less of professional formation, the |
president was hurried to the Jai Alai
building.
NOtw1thStanO1nS IndI 1TeSloeHI
Roosevelt was caught in the rain he |
stood in the open carriage Dowing TO
the multitudes. He proceeded straight |
to the Jai Alai building and went
through the programme in his wet
clothes. Mayor Wells, whose raiment
also was considerably dampened, intro
duced Governor Folk of Missouri, who
in turn made brief speech presenting
President Roosevelt.
Ovation Lasted Three Minutes.
At the first mention of President
Roosevelt's name ten thousand per-
sons spontaneously sprang to their feet
and began waving flags. The ovation
continued for three minutes. The mo-
ment he began to talk the cheering
was renewed. The president waited a
moment until quiet had been restored
and then began the delivery of his ad-
dress.
A package taken from Chicago 10
Alton. ILL.,. by relay moter boats in 3S
hours and AZ minutes was passed 20
the presidents steamer, Mississippi, /
from the motor boat Kitty Sparks II, /
Just above Alton at $50 a. m. today.
It contained a message from Mayor
Busse of Chicago to the president and
was opened by him and read as soon
as he had awakened.
The message reached Alton last
night ahead of expected schedule.