The Democratic advocate., 1909-02-26
ROOsEYELTs APRICAN TRIp.
VIII Leave New FORK Middle Of March
and Be Gome 2 Years.

ana DC uOMo AcArbs
Washington, Feb. 21.-The first full
and complete statement Of the plans
for President Rooseyelt's trip to Az
rica were given to the public this
evening. This covers the Presidents
inspiration. expectations. route, pur-
poses, outfit, caravan. weapons, and a
sketch of a goodly portion Of Africa,
which appears to be quite a continent.
It begins by the statement that
Theodore Roosevelt, so years Of age,
having, on March 4, with his retire.
ment as twenty-slxth President OF the
United States. completed over 25 years
OF public service, has decided to take
rest and recreation In a two years
trip abroad, half OF which will be
spent In Africa under the British flag
as a faunal naturalist, and the other
malt In Europe, visiting at least three
Of the big capitals"
The Official party will consist of Mr..
Roosevelt, his son Kermit, and three
American naturalists, who are prob
ably not "faunaf-Maior Edgar A.
Mearns. United States Army officer
(retired); J. Loring Alden and Ed
mund Heller The object OF the hunt
is not to hunt, but to make a collec-
tion Of mammals, birds, reptiles. in
sects and botanical specimens 10 be
deposited In the National Museum AT
washington, a superb marble palace
which probably will be completed to
house the unprecedented and unparal-
lelled collection.
The party will leave New York the
middle OF March, going by the Mediter-
ranean route TO Gibraltar and Naples.
AZ Naples they win board a steamer
for Kilindini hRrbor, Mombaaa Island.
Africa. where they will arrive toward
the end OF April. They will proceed
by the railway 20 Nairobi. spend Rix
months there. then go by rail to Port
Florence, Lake Victoria Nyanza. The
party viii cross urgandA by caravan,
and finally pass down the whole
length OF 1the Nile, arriving at Khar-
tom about April, 1910. At Khartoum
Mrs. Roosevelt will Join the party and
accompany the President on his trip
TO Europe.
II is stated that the funds for the
trip were secured by the Smithsonian
Institution from 3 source which has
not been revealed. but that II will
not be paid for out OF the funds OF the
Smithsonian or Of the Government. II
u reported that the amount necessary
has been donated by Mr.. Andrew Car
negie. Mr.. Roosevelt has stated that
nc himself will pay his own personal
expenses and thoae Of his son.
Major Mearns IL a great ornitholo-
I Kist, Mr. J. Loring Allen r. a great
heid naturalist. Mr. Edmund Heller
10 great zooloEiat and Mr.. r. J. Gun
[ nlnEhame. an EngliHhman. who will
accompany the party, In a great shot
Ihe smaller mammals will be
caught In traps, Of which many OF the
/ latest models have been made. The
larger mammals will be shot with ex-
I press rifles. and the most powerful
4 rifles in the world have been secured
I Tor Mr. Roosevelt guns have been ex-
/ presBly manufactured. The nrst Is n
rihe of,40b-calibere carrying a 800 grain
I bullet, with which 20 nhoot elephants
and rhinocofi. The bullet at the time
OF Impact has an energy Of $500
/ pounds The second riic Ia a new
United States Government rlmless
cartridge type. carrying a 220-Grain
/ bullet 10 Xiii very large game at 500
70 1000 yards. This is the lion gun.
The third rifie Ii an extra light Eun,
I $40 cartridge. With ~ most effective
range a, Ave yards. The fourth ia a
.f0o-caliber gun for moderate alze
game u IL Of high power type. The
other members Of the party will be-
armed with somewhat similar guns
+ and VIII also carry reyolvern.
Every member Of the party IL said
/ to be a dead shot and all the large
/ party Of natives have been selected
Z Tor their shooting ability. The coun.
+ ny v treasured by the statement that
1 y Mr.. Roosevelt should happen TO
miss a lion or n rhlnoceros the beast
would be brought down by a fualliads
OF bullets before he could possibly
/ reach the President.
While In Africa Mr. Roosevelt Will
/ write a number Of articles on hunt
/ Ing for ScTtbnsr'a Magazine. which
I u said TO have contracted 10 pay him
for these at the rate Of 81 a word. and
( VIII also write editorials for The Out
/ look.
4 After the African hunt, on his yisit
/ OF Europe. Mr.. Roosevelt will lecture
IN German at the University Of Ber-
lin, In French at the sobonne IN Paris
and In English al oxford University
England - y