The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-29
Great Confusion in Taft Fleet
on Leaving Vicksburg.
Much Tact and Profanity Re-
quired to Get Away.
RACE ON THE RIVER.
Reminded Many of Old Days on
the Mississippi.
President Has Fun With Con-
gressman in His Speech.

Natchez Miss. Oct. 29.-Not since the
day the battleship Mississippi visited
Natchez and won the river speed rec
ord from this city to New Orleans mas
there been another such crowd on the
bluff as greeted President Tart on MS
arrival here this morning on board the
lighthouse tender Oleander at 9:4o d. H.
The president was nearly three hours
behind time. Eight of the other Vesseis
of the waterways fleet were IN slght
when the Oleander pointed her nose
into the bank This was d6e TO inc
fact that the Oleander, which shook OH
all the other boats yesterday in the run
to Vicksburg, got into d1fhcultles ner-
self last night and could not make her
usual speed.
One of the regular firemen had to De
put ashore at Memphis on account OIL
illness and a green hand at the nres
succeeded in choking them Another
reason for the long delay IN reachlIls
here was the fact that the ooats ar
riving at Vicksburg after the Oleander
last night, crowded into the haEpol
canal in direct violation OF the oruers
and blocked the exit of the president.
The Oleander had to lay to for an hour
and a half after casting off from the
shore.
Every pilot or master blamed the
other for the choked condition or lne
-
profanity and tact to get things
Strengthened out.
Race on the River.
Once out of Vicksburg harbor, there
occurred another incident which is ike
ly to cause trouble to some OF the river
men.
In the line Yesterday in the free for all
run from Helena to Vicksburg. Inc
steamer Alton. which is declared to be
faster than the Wells, tried to push
into the second place as the Oleander
was leaving last night and for minute
or more there was an exciting and dan
gerous scene. suggestive of the old days
on the Mississippi.
Great clouds of smoke poured from
the tall stacks on the two noats anu
occasional flashes of fame burst from
the black clouds The masters were
trying to push each other out Oh line as
they rushed along
The struggle continued until the Two
racers were almost at the stern wheel
OF the Oleander. AS they came withla
hailing distance Commander T1llman,
admiral of the fleet, called some orders
through a megaphone which set thlngS
straight. He directed the Alton TO crop
aStern of the W ellis ana tne race was
over.
Secretary Nagle of the department
of commerce and labor, under whose
direction the steamboat is. was on the
top deck of the Oleander. watching
the midnight race. Just what time
the OIeander will reach New Orleans
tomorrow is not known. She Will
make but one more stop on the way,
at Baton Rouge tonight, but as the
boilers are working badly she will not
be able to maintain her average
speed.
Taft Will Not Wait.
The idea of waiting outside of New
nrIa StrQPQ1inR hers
of the fleet has been abandoned and
the Oleander will enter the city just
as soon as she can get there. 1t is
hoped this will be by noon at the lat
est. Even with the Oleander making
greatly reduced speed last night, some
of the older vessels in the line had to
puff and wheeze and blacken the no.
rizon with their smoke to keep within
hailing distance.
to who made the schedule to New
There is quite a controversy on as
Orleans. Some blame it on Washing
ton, some on the st. Louis committee,
and some on various other people.
Commander Tillman informed some
of these in charge of the excursion
that the boats would not be able to
keep to the designated speed, but he
was asked not to say anything about
it,
President Taft was greeted here by
Mayor Benrook, and reception COM
m1IIe0. Inc may maze a Dr1e1 aQ-
dress of welcome and the president
and many of the visiting governors
who arrived on the steamer st. Paul.
were taken for an automobile drive
through the city. The ride ended at
a court of honor on the bluff where
the president made a brief address
In his speech at Vicksburg late last
night, President Taft had a little fun
with the congressman on the river
trip and on board of whose steamer
vided. Addressing the presiding Of
ficers at the Elks club, the president
said:
The Presidents Speech.
You have intimated that somebody
thought it was a junket. Well, that de-
pends upon what you mean by a Junk
ct? If it is defined as the man defined
his pleasure when he did not take his
wife with him, it is a junket. If it
means journey full Of pleasure and
with no work and no effort in 1t, then
I deny that it is junket.
"If you had seen the efforts made
at oratory on board the congressional
steamer as it came down the river, YOU
would understand they were still prac-
ticing their profession. If you had at
tended the meeting of the governors.
heard their innocent investigation into
what is meant by that phrase that
rolls off our tongue with SO much
ease, the conservation of our natural
resources, you could understand that
the governors were pursuing their con-
stitutional duty on board that vessel
that comes with due slowness down the
river, and If you had taken passage in
hose narrow hunks which can be com
pared only to that permanent resting
place towards which we are moving
with so much reluctance, you would
understand that no one would have
sought that means of passing the night
u-less it was in the earnest discharge
of duty.
Refers to Poker Game.