The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-10-28
PRESIDENTS TOUR
Making Trip From 81. Louis
Down Mississippi 20
New Orleans.
MIR. TAFT'S POSSUM STOLEN

Possum and Potatoes Disappeared
While Surrounded by Detectives
and Policemen-However Another
One was Furnished for tho Presi-
dents Dinner-Given Grand Re-
ception in Texas-Spoke At Texas
State Fair, but was very Hoarse.
Dallas, Texas, Oct. 23.-President
Taft arrived here at $3.50 o'clock this
afternoon after a fast run by special
train from Houston, where he spent
three hours this morning. He was
taken Immediately to the State Fair
grounds. where he made an open air
speech to throng which filed the
big race track stand and spread far
out in every direction. Mr.. Taft was
so hoarse that he could be heard only
a short distance. He spoke again
briefly tonight at banquet rendered
turned to his train preparatory to
leaving early tomorrow morning for
st. Louins. From st. Louis on Mon
day afternoon the President will be-
gin pilgrimage of four days and
five nights down the Mississippi river
to New Orleans.
At Hampstead, Tex, the President
spoke to several hundred pupils Of
the Prairie View Colored State Nor
NAL School, and at College Station
addressed the students of the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College. who
were drawn up in uniform. An unfor-
tunate incident OF the Presidents
trip to Dallas was the bayoneting Of
Deputy Clerk Louis Reichtenstein by
one Of the militiamen on guard at
the Fair grounds. Reichenstein was
operated on tonight at st. Paul's San
itarium and 1t was said he could not
live. The stabbing occurred just be-
fore the Presidents train arrived at
the fair grounds and 1t is presumed
that Reichenstein was trying to force
a way through the crowd, although
1t Is said he was behind the wire
gable holding the crowd back when
the soldier used his bayonet.
The knife-like weapon went entire
ly through Reiehtenstein's body in
the vicinity Of the abdomen.
President Leaves Texas.
Little Rock, Ark. Oct. 24.-Presi-
dent Taft left Texas this afternoon
after spending nine days In that State
and Is speeding tonight toward st.
Louis, where he will arrive at 1880
a. m. tomorrow. With formal
breakfast, a speech in the vast st.
Louis auditorium, luncheon and the
dedication of a government building
in East st. Louis before him, the
President will have every moment of
his time occupied up to S o'clock to-
morrow afternoon when, on the
steamer Oleander he will lead a pro-
cession of boats containing Govern
ors, Senators, Representatives and
delegates down the Mississippi river
to New Orleans to attend the conven-
ton of the lakes to gulf deep water
ways association.
Presidents 'Possum Stolen.
The Presidents train developed q
full-fledged mystery today. Railroad
detectives, special police and secret
service men to the contrary notwith-
standing, somebody stole the Presi-
dents 'possum. It happened at Dali
las, where it seemed as though there
were at least a million policemen,
special officers and plain clothes men.
Deputy sheriffs and militiamen on
guard and the authorities there this
| morning were inclined to charge It
up as another "black hand" outrage.
A fat, sleek, shiny-looking 'possum
| was put aboard the train yesterday
at Hampstead, Tex. He occupied one
half of an orange crate. while on The
| other side was a mess of sweet po-
tatoes intended to be served as a con-
comitant of the feast. The 'possum
and potatoes were safely stored away
in the Presidential baggage car. With
memories of the 'possum dinner in
Atlanta last winter still fresh In his
mind, the President suggested this
morning that the Hempstead gift
should have the place OF honor
among the viands for dinner on the
"Mayfower" this evening.
Then came the astonishing news
that the possum had disappeared
The man in charge OF the baggage
car had set the crate on the platform
last night at Dallas, and despite the
fact that the train was surrounded by
bluecoats throughout the period oi
darkness, the mornings light reveal.
ed the fact that the bird" had howr
taking the sweet potatoes with him.
! Through some psychological phe
nomenon the Presidents desires and
the woeful loss at Dallas Travelled
ahead of the train and when II ar
rived at Longview at noon today an
other 'possum, all dressed for cook
ing, was put aboard. Consequent!
the 'possum dinner on the Mayhowel
was not postponed.