The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-10
NOT A ROUGH RIDER
Kermit Roosevelt Unlike His
Father and Brother.
OPINION OF AN OLD TROOPER
Capt. Lee Says Presidents Son Is No
Gutter, and Remained a Day
1onger with Troop Than Was
Originally Intended-LOng Hike OF
Cavalry Squadron a Success.

That Kermit Roosevelt is not the rider
that his fiustrious father is, nor so good,
even, as Theodore. r., is the opinion of
the troopers of the Thirteenth United
states Cavalry, who have completed their
march from Fort Riley. Kans., TO Fort
Sheridan. H., young Roosevelt having &C
companied them part Of the way.
That he did not retreat before the on
slaught Of curious womenfOlk Is the story
OF Capt. Lee. a personal aid 10 the Presi-
dent, who was detailed with the regi-
ment as a guard for Kermit.
While the officers speak highly Of Ker-
mit's soldierly proeliviues, the troopers
have ideas of their own.
Not a Rough and Ready Mixer,
Kermit isn't the lad that Teddy, IT.,
is" said one bronzed trooper. Il served
under his dad in Cuba and saw consider
ably Of Teddy. jr Kermit is a retiring
lad He seemed afraid TO get out from
under the shelter Of headquarters tent
Why. If his father or older brother were
with this troop. they'd have been mixing
with the men. They're good fellows.
They said Kermit was used to ridirg. but
after two days Of It we laughed at him
for standingNup IN his stirrups, They had
20 set him a new horse with an easier
gait"
When the troopers reached the town
OF Palatine, IL, twenty-six miles west of
Chicago, the whole countryside gathered
in and about the camp. On the lips Of
hundreds was the one question:
where's Kermit"
With much disappointment the curious
ones learned that young Roosevelt had
left for the Northern woods. where the
bright eyes Of curious lassies could beam
on him no more and the mOtherly hands
Of gray-haired matrons no longer could
pat his cheek and say: What a dear
boy. Just think! He's the Presidents
SOM
Cathro Gets the "smOthering."
The "smothering" intended for young
Roosevelt. through a Joke Of a trooper,
became the lot Of Lieut. T. &. Cathro.
Company D. who is Of handsome, youth
fUl appearance. He was seated IN his tent
writing a report when a bevy Of two
dozen girls sw0oped down on him.
You're Kermit Roosevelt, aren't your
shouted a tousle-headed girl In the fore
Before he had time TO answer. such ex-
carnations as ooh, isn't he dearl"
please give me q BUTTON Don't you
like being a soldier?" filed the tent.
Young Cathro at first attempted TO carry
the alleged role until the smothering
process reached the stage where one girl
reached after a lock Of hair with a pair Of
embroidery scissors. Then he broke from
the tent IN full retreat. The trooper who
had provoked the joke laughingly inter-
cepted the pursuit
There were two other sons Of their
fathers" in camp-Capt Fitzhugh Lee. jT.,
OF the Seventh Cavalry, and Lieut.. Phil
H Sheridan, jr., sons, respectively, Of
famous Confederate and Northern gen
erals Of the civil war. Capt. Lee was
young Roosevelts travelling companion.
While the common rumor in camp was
that young Roosevelt was a gutter. 3"
Capt Lee gave a different version OF the
lads departure.
Departure OF Kermit Explained.
Kermit never intended to finish the
hike with US" said Capt. Lee. He joined
US at Fairfield, Iowa, on August q, and
left at Joslyn, H.. for Chicago on August
90 In fact, he stayed q day longer than
he intended, He met Marvin Hughitt, Jr,,
son Of the president Of the Northwestern
Railroad, on August 81, and they went
into the North woods for a two weeks
hunt. Kermit viii meet me IN Chicago
in about ten days, and will accompany
him to Oyster Bay. His school opens
September 10"
The 7e0-mile hike was the longest one
taken by any regular troops since 1895,
according 70 the officers. They left Fort
Riley on July e. The experiences en-
.countered since then have tested tho en-
durance Of the men and horses TO the full
extent Yet there was not a man in the
hospital. and but four horses had been
lost en- route.
The troopers ara Of companies A, B, G,
ard D. the first squadron Of the Thir-
teenth Cavalry. At Fort Sheridan they
took the place OF the part OF the Ninth
Cavalry which recently left for the Philip
pines. The officers are:
Maj T. J. Lewis, IN charge; Lieut.. !. G.
Pillows, adjutant; Lieut.. Keihl, quarter
master; DIT L. II. Bell. surgeon. Com
pany A, Capt Robert c. Williams. Lieuts.
W ?. Moffett, and Henry J. Riley
Company B-IIeut. Sturgis in COM
mand; Second Lieut.. Z. v Armstrong.
Company C-LieUt John w. Wilen in
command; Lieut.. Phil H Sheridan, Of
Fifth cavalry, attached.
Company D-Lieut. T. E. Cathro IN COM
mand