Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-11
Crowds Await Arrival of Mr..
Taft and Party.
ON BOARD RIVER BOAT
Guns Salute as Transfer Is Made
From Warship.
BIG PARADE THIS AFTERNOON
Procession Will Start as Soon as
the Birmingham Touches Wharf.
Favored by Fine Weather.

| PORT EADS, La, via New Orleans.
La. February 11.-Although announce
| ment was made last night that the trip
| of the Taft party up the river would be
] begun at 7:3O am. today. it was sew
| eral minutes after o'clock when ne
Magnolia got the President-elect and
the members of his party off the North
| Carolina and Montana and transferred
| them to the Birmingham, and it was
not until $50 that the Birmingham
crossed the bar on her way to New Or
leans.
the Montana and North Carolina fired
salutfs of thirteen guns, and then,
weighing their anchors, put slowly out
to sea. They became mere specks on
the horizon almost Before the Birmingham
river.
The President-elect was in fine spirits
when he arose this morning and found
one of the prettiest days of his trip
breaking on the gulf. The warm sun
shine of the tropics was still present.
and there was wind just brisk and
chilly enough to inject life into the
| more languid members of the party.
The deniZens of Port Eads and Pilot
town were up early watching the prep
arations for the transfer. When the
President-elect's party got under way
large proportions as the passes can
afford. Mr.. Taft appreciated the toot-
ing of the little pilot boat whistles and
smiled and doffed his hat as the Bir-
mlnsham passed up the river.
Nearing the City.
Although Mr.. Taft dozed peacefully off
to sleep last night on board the North
Carolina at the mouth of the river with
considerable satisfaction over complet-
ing the greater part of his journey home.
the transfer to the scout cruiser Birming-
ham and the trip up the river to New
Orleans yet lay before him when he
awoke today. Last night the federal
health officer at the Mississippi river
trip to New Orleans as much as was
in his power by going out to the North
Carolina on tug and issuing a clean
bill of health for those on board. This
did away with the necessity of a lCng
stop at quarantine for inspection.
Necessary changes In the program and
unlocked for delays made the exact
time of the arrival of the Birmingham
In New Orleans uncertain. and 1t was not
until wireless message was received to
the effect that the Birmingham would
certainly reach Chalmette, Just below
New SOrleans, by l o'clock this afternoon,
that the fears of the anxious committee
men were set at rest Several dozen
committees figure in the work of en-
tertaining the distinguished guest, and
when the hour of his arrival became def
initely settled the following official pre-
gram was issued:
The Official Program.
II a.m.-Rirer reception committee will
report on board the steamer Gen. John
Newton at the head of Canal street
Meeting U.S.S. Birmingham and receiving
official party and escorting to head of
Canal street.
pm. sharp.Committee on land recep-
tion will report at landing head of Canal
street. forming in double rank a wide
lane through which Mr.. Taft and party
will be escorted to carriages. Mrs. Taft
will be escorted to the Pickwick Club.
where the parade will be reviewed
2:15 p.m.-Committee on carriages will
seat guests in carriages. Mr.. Taft, Gov
Sanders, Mayor Martin Behrmann and
Chairman Philip Werlein will occupy the
first carriage.
2:1S p.m.-Col. John p Sullivan. grand
marshal, will put parade in motion.
3:15 pm.-Committee ON public recep-
tion will meet Mr.. Taft's carriage at city
hall and escort him to platform.
3:3O p.m.-Mr. Taft will return to his
carriage and the parade will move. pass
ing through University place and then
disbanding.
3:i5 p.m.-Mr. Taft will be received by
hotel reception committee and turned over
to hotel accommodation committee which
will escort him to his apartments. Balance
of day will be confined to private enter
tainment.