The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-03-23
EX.PREsI0E1iiiif H.
ROOSEVELT IS
OFF TO W|LQS
Cheered by Thousands of His
Admiring Countrymen, the
Journey Begins
The MOST INTERESTING
JOURNEY EVER UNDERTAKEN
Itinerary Will Garry Party Into AL.
most Heretofore Unknown and I'm.
explored Regions-Some of the In.
cidents Connected With Departure.

explored Regions-Some of the In.
cidents Connected With Departure.
Oyster Bay, L. l., March 23-Cheer-
ed by the fellow townsmen who had
gathered at 'the station to bid him
God speed, ex-President Theodore
Roosevelt left here shortly after z
o'clock this morning for New York to
begin his tong. Journey across the
seas to hunt in the wildernesses Of
British East Africa for the next year.
Because Of the earliness of the hour,
there was only small gathering at
the station to see him on. He shook
hands with those who pressed about
him for parting greeting and there
were lusty cheers as the train moved
out. Roosevelt bade goodbye to the
family at the house and drove down
to the station with Kermit and little
Quentin. At the Jstation Roosevelt
kissed Quentin goodbye and there was
trace of tears in his eyes as he said
farewell.
At New York
New York, March 23-Ex-President
Roosevelt and his son Kermit arrived
here at 1888 o'clock this morning from
Oyster Bay. They went by automobile
to the Tyenty-third street station of
the Hudson tunnel and took a train
under the Hudson to Hoboken.
Theodore Roosevelt sailed today
from his native land on the first
stage Of his Journey to the wilds Of
East Africa in search of big game in
which the region abotnds. From his
country home at Oyster Bay. to the
steamship dock In Hoboken, the ex-
presidents route resembled q tri-
umphal march. the greetings Of the
crowds which had gathered to wish
him good luck being expressed all
along the way in enthusiastic cheers.
A feature of the triumph was that
Roosevelt rode for the first time in the
tunnel under the Hudson from New
York to Jersey City. When he arriv-
ed at the Hamburg-American line
pier, where he boarded the steam
ship Hamburg, the ex-president found
a densely packed throng of his fellow
countrymen and as he appeared, loud
cheers greeted him. He smiled and
bowed right and left in cordial ac-
acknowledgement Of the salutations Of
the assemblage and evidently was
much pleased at the warmth and sin
cerity Of the demonstration in his
honor.
Roosevelt gave short talk to the
newspaper men on board the Ham
burg. He greeted them at the deck
way of his suite. "Oh, gentlemen, there
is one thing that desire very much
to have you say for me. There is an
immense mass Of mail on board this
steamer which has come to me and
which have not been able to open
and much Of which I will not be able
to open for some time. I have no
stenographer with me. Since I left
the white house have received about
five or six thousand letters Four
f1fths of these have not even seen.
My thanks to the people who sent
them is, however, note the less Now
! wish that you would say for me that
It will be only a waste OF time for
any one to write to ns while I am
in Africa. Again I will say that I
deeply appreciate tho courtesy Of
those who have written me and take
this occasion to give them NY 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" Roosevelt immedi-
ately threw up both his hands and
exclaimed, goodbye, gentlemen, good
bye" But he was still smiling when
the interview closed.
Tablet Presented
Shortly before the steamer sailed.
Roosevelt, escorted by detachment
of tn elocal 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 pre-.
sent him. The appearance of Roose-
vent was the signal for tremendous
cheering by the crowds on the pier
and on the steamers deck. The Ital-
ian orator cut short his lengthy ad-
dress, briefly stating that the tablet
was presented by the Italians in ap-
probation Of what Roosevelt had
caused to be done for the suffering
people of southern Italy and Gala
brea. Roosevelt in reply said: II
appreciate this very much. I want
to thank you all. I cannot tell you
how deeply touched l am" One of
the ex-president's las. acts before the
vessel sailed was to send a message
to President Taft reading, Parting
thinks, love and sincerity" Presi-
dent Taft's goodbye gift to his prede-
cessor was gold pencil inscribed
with the words Goodbye and good
luck"