Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-24
ROOSEVELT ON WAY TO AFRICA
Party Sails on Hamburg at IL :06
Tuesday Morning,
BIG CROWD WISHES GoDSPEED
ThronE at the Dock Almost Becomes
UnmanaEeable and the For
mer President L. Rudely
Jostled.

NEW YORK, March ZS.-Standlns on
the bridge OF the steamship Hamburg and
acknowledging the enthusiastic cheering
Of thousands Of persons who had assem-
bled TO bid him goodbye. Theodore Roose-
Welt sailed for Africa today. He was
smiling happily and showed Enthusiastically
his pleasure at the warmth of the demon
s~tration accorded him. Beside him on the
bridge stood his son Kermit and Captain
Burmeister. commander OF the vessel.
The big ship left its pier at six minutes
past IL o'clock and Il slowly made its way
out into the channel amid cheers that
completely drowned the music OF the
bands. which were playing The Star
Spangled Banner" The distinguished
traveller was still on the bridge, watching
the scene as the vessel was warped cut
into the stream and headed down the tay
on the start Of its journey. The cheering
continued as long as the ship was within
hearing distance.
One CT the ex-president's last acts before
the vessel sailed was to send a message
to President Taft reading:
Parting thanks. love and sincerity
President Taft's goodbye gift to his
predecessor was a gold pencil inscribed
with the words, Goodbye and Good
Luck"
The crowds on the steamer and the pier
were so great that the ex-president was
severely jostled several times, but he was
not injured and smiled through it all.
Accompanying the big ship down the
bay was the tug John ]. Timmins, which
had on board a large number Of friends
of the ex-president. among them many
who had been associated with him in his
official life.
Talks TO Newspaper Men.
Mr.. Roosevelt gave a short talk to the
newspaper men on board the Hamburg.
He greeted them at the doorway Of his
suite.
Now, gentleman, l am glad to see you
ne said. What can I tell you? Oh. yes,
there Is that picture pointing to a portrait
OF Mr.. Taft, 1t is very interesting and
very fine. don't you think so?
"Oh. gentlemen, there is one thing that
l desire very much to have you say for
me. There is an immense mass Of mail
on board this steamship which has come
to me and which 1 have not been able to
open and much Of which l will not be able
to open for some time. l have no stenogra-
pher with me. Since I left the White House
l have received about 5000 or 5000 letters.
Four-fifths of those I have not even seen.
My thanks to the people who sent them
Is, however none the less. Now 1 wish
that you would say for me that 1t will be
only p waste of time for anyone TO write
to me while | am in Africa. Again 1 will
say that l deeply appreciate the courtesy
Of those who have written me and take
this occasion to give them my thanks"
One of the reporters in the party broke
into the conversation with the interjection:
Some one told me, colonel. that you were
going TO be our next president"
Mr.. Roosevelt Immediately threw UP both
hands and exclaimed:
Good bys, gentlemen. good bye" But he
was still smiling when the interview closed.
NJ. Jusserand, the French ambassador, and
Mrs. Jusserand, went aboard the steamer
shortly after Mr.. Roosevelt's party arrived
and were escorted to the Roosevelt quar-
ters. They conversed with Mr.. Roosevelt
for some time.
Tribute of Italians.
A notable feature of the reception on the
steamer was e tribute to the ex-president
by the Italian Chamber OF Commerce Of
New York City. The body presented a
bronze tablet bearing on one side a portrait
Of the ex-president and on the other the
scene OF the sicilian earthquake and a
representation Of the Goddess Of Peace
placing a wreath on Roosevelt's head. The
tablet was inscribed:
T Theodore Roosevelt, to you and the
United States, a tribute OF Thanksgiving
from ~Italo-Americsns for generous help to
their stricken brethren Of Calabria and
Sicily"
Several delegations from Italian societies
were present, bringing a band. a floral
offering and a large banner. which was
erected on the pier. II bore the inscription:
Ttalo-Americans let US shout Long live
President Roosevelt and the United States.
A tribute OF thanksgiving on behalf Of our
brethren OF Sicily and Calabrta. Let US
solemnly condemn any crime staining
Italy's name. Let us here pledge our 10y
atty to American institutions. Long live
America"
Thousands Cheer Ex-President.
Shortly before the steamer sailed Mr..
Roosevelt, escorted by a detachment of
local police. appeared at the after gangway.
which led TO the pier. The police had cleared
an open space across the pier to the point
where the Italian-American organization
had a bronze tablet In readiness to present
him. The appearance Of Nj. Roosevelt was
the signal for tremendous cheering by the
crowds on the pier and on the steamers
hNNh - iN oAAN hCNh nv baAAb PAaAAh III
cheering continued and a party OF college
boys from Stevens institute in Hoboken let
loose their college yell. on the way across
the pier the lines Of police escorting Mr..
Roosevelt were broken through by the pres
sure Of the eager crowd and the ex-presi-
dent was swept toward the tablet by the
rush. The crowd closed in solidly behind
him. and while the police were e~ndeavoring
10 tight off the on-rush Mr.. Roosevelt asked
the speakers TO make the presentation cere-
mony very brief. The Italian orator cut
short his lengthy address, briefly stating
that the tablet was presented by the Ital-
ians in appreciation of what Mr.. Roosevelt
had caused to be done for the suffering
people Of southern Italy and Calabria. Mr..
Roosevelt In reply said:
Il appreciate this very much. I want 10
thank all. l cannot tell you how deeply
touched I am"
Crowds BecOme UnmhnaEeabIe.
Mr.. Roosevelt, seeing that the crowd was
becoming unm~anageable. gave directions
that the tablet be sent to Mrs. Roosevelt