New-York tribune., 1908-06-21
PRESIDENT In PERIL
SIGN4L AVERTS WRECK.
Engineer 4cts Just IN Time-Hdnd-
car ON Track.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Oyster Bay June 20.-The President came
home to-d day to begin what will in all prob
ability be his last summer vacation as the ma
tional chief and incidentally received the warm
est welcome ever given to him by his old neigh
bors II on some of his former visits the viii
layers have seemed undemonstrative, they made
up for 1t to-day, and the President was obliged
to put In solid quarter of an hour handshaking
on the station platform before he could escape
to his carriage and start for Sycamore HILL
While the way to his home town to-day
the President announced that he would signalize
his retirement from office March next by
making an important change in the inaugura-
ton proceedings. Instead of escorting Presi-
dent Taft or whoever the incoming Executive
happens to be, from the Capitol, where he has
taken the oath of office. to the White House,
where his new home will be. President Roose-
welt will at once retire from the limelight by
driving to the railroad station and taking a
train for Oyster Bay
THE moment the incoming President takes
the oath of office the outgoing President be-
comes a private citizen and has no excuse for
being longer on the programme" is the way the
President summed up the to-day, and
coupled the remark to Secretary Loeb with the
announcement that he intended to leave the
programme" the instant that he ceased to be
an official part thereof
Secretary Loeb said that the President ex-
pected to sail for Cairo his African hunting
expedition about April L. less than four
weeks after he escorts his successor to the
Capitol.
On the last portion of the journey to-day.
when the Presidents special was hurrying east
ward from Roslyn, the train was brought to a
sudden stop end the crew piled out in some
fright to ascertain the cause. 1t was found
that the safety block sign had been dropped al
most at the instant the Presidents train was
about to enter one of the sections. and 1t was
only by the merest good luck that the engineer
caught the warning signal. brakeman who
was rushed ahead with red flag found that a
section gang had lifted a handcar upon the
track. which might have wrecked the Pres1-
dents train had 1t not been discovered IN time
Secretary Loeb announced this evening tnat
Secretary Taft will visit the President at Saga
more Hill during the latter part of next week
TO have final official talk with his chief before
he leaves the War Department.
The village was in gala dress in honor OF the
Presidents return Every house displayed a
flag or bunting, and the railroad station was
Ella borately decorated.
The Presidential train arrived at o:1o p. m.
Long before a crowd of men, women and chill
dren had begun to gather at the station, and
when at last the train arrived and Mr.. Roose-
velt was seen standing on the platform OF his
car q great cheer went up from the crowd
The President was in jolly mood, and told
those whom he called his ''neighbors that he
was glad to get back home and see familiar
faces Some one called out, How about Taft
and Sherman to which the President replied;
"A strong ticket and sure to win"
The President saw that Mrs. Roosevelt and
the children were safely in the surrey and then
into another surrey and closely followed the
Presidents carriage to Sycamore Hill.
Secretary Loeb and Mrs Loeb were driven to
the cottage which they will occupy during their
stay In Oyster Bay. Mr. Loeb said that he and
his staff of assistants would occupy the quarters
in the Moore Building. in which the Presidential
business Offices have been in former years.