Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-04-16
ROOSEVELT Thanked
BY |TALY'S MONARCH
King Expresses Gratitude to Amer.
lea for Aid to Earthquake
Sufferers.
MESS1NA RUINS ARE VISITED.
After Brief Stay in Wrecked City
Former President Resumes
Voyage to Africa.

Theodore Roosevelt and King Victor
Emmanuel met Tuesday on the Italian
battleship Re Umberto in Messtna har-
Dor. The meeting was characterized
by the utmost cordiality, and the King
took the occasion to express the graft
tude Of himself and the Italian people
for the generous assistance Of the
American people to the earthquake SUI
ferers.
Roosevelt Sees Ruins OF Messinn.
At the close of the interview Mr..
Roosevelt went ashore and inspected
the ruins of the city, the desolation OF
which moved him strongly. He then
boarded the steamer Admiral, which
just at sunset proceeded on its way to
Mombasa.
The Admiral arrived at Messina
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and
was saluted by the Re Umberto, with
the King on board, which reached there
in the morning. Almost Immediately
Capt. Pfeister, the forfer italian mill
tary attache at Washington and now
aid to Admiral Mirabello. was taken
to the steamer Admiral in a launch and
inquired for Mr.. Roosevelt.
To him he said the King sent his
compliments, and would have great
pleasure in receiving the former Presi-
dent Of the United States. Mr.. Roose-
velt's face lit up with a pleased smile.
and, accompanied by his son, Kermit,
and Ambassador Griscom. he proceed
ed at once to the battlesh4p.
King Gives Warm Greeting.
The King met the party at the head
of the gangway, and he greeted the ex.
President effusively, shaking him
warmly by the hand. He did not wish,
he said, to allow the opportunity to
pass of making the personal acQuaint-
ance of so distinguished a man. Above
all, he wanted personally to thank the
ex-President for the help extended by
America at the time of the earth
quake.
You are now able" he added, Ito
understand better what u terrible dis
aster it was"
Mr.. Roosevelt replied, thanking the
sovereign for the compliment paid him
In inviting him to come aboard the
Re Umberto. He said that the Amer
lean people did not wish thanks for
what they had done, as they merely
had tried to do their duty, and knew
no better way to confront the i'm
mense need than by their work and
contributions.
The conversation then turned to the
hunting trip to Africa, the King say
ing that his tastes also ran in that d.
%rection. He mentioned the expedition
similarly with the Duke of Aosta, ex-
pressed the hope hat Mr.. Roosevelt
would meet the count there.
After more than half an hours con-
versation the King accompanied his
guest ashore, where a photograph was
made Of a group consisting Of his
majesty, the ex-President, Kermit and
the American Ambassador. At the
suggestion Of the king, Mr.. Roosevelt
snapped a picture of his majesty, Ad-
miral Mirabello, Kermit and Ambas-
sador Griscom, amid much laughter.
Before leaving the King saluted Mr..
Roosevelt, wishing him a happy and
successful trip and much good luck in
the way of hunting. He asked Mr..
Roosevelt to promise that he would
visit Rome on his return when the
Queen would be pleased to make his
acquaintance. The King then took his
departure, not wishing to accompany
the party over the ruins.