The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-29
BOATS IN MIx-UP.
CONTINUED fropl Page One,

PRESIDENT Taft tried to remain with
the fleet as long as possible On tina.
account ne was three hours late at
memphis and two hours late at Helena.
The people Of vicksburg made great
plans for entertaining the president.
The president himself had been look
ing forward with pleasure to a three
hours drive over the famous battlefield.
The city had been deliberately decorated
In his honor and all that was left of
the. program was the buffet supper
which was held at the Elks club The
president made a speech in which he
expressed his deep regrets and chagrin
that the schedule of the river trip had
gone awry and cut his visit to Vicks
burg short.
The president has not yet caught up
with four torpedo boat destroyers that
were to act as his escort down the
river The grim little vessels were at
ST. Louis few days before his arrival
but railing water in the river sent them
scurrylng over the sandbars below the
missouri metropolis in search of deeper
water. 1t was said that they would
have joined the waterways fleet at
Hickman but further fall of water sent
them still further down the river. Mem
phis was the next point assigned for
the rendezvous with the escort, but
when the president arrived there the
destroyers had gone ahead. Just where
they VIII join company with the clean
der no one on board the latter has any
He Got a Chance to Work.
The first the people of vicksburg
knew Of the nearly seven hours de-
lay OF the arrival of the president was
when message was received from
Greenvtlle, Miss, shortly after noon.
This message along. with several news
| dispatches was thrown overheard
from the Oleander in a glass bottle
and was picked up by a launch sent
out by the telegraph company. The
president took advantage of his long
| day on the river to get rid of lot of
correspondence, keeping both of his
| assistant secretaries busy from early
| morning until the arrival here. He
took occasion, too, to consult freely
| with the three members of his cabinet
on board the Oleander, the secretary
of war, the postmaster general and
| the secretary of commerce and la
| Dor.
President Taft left vicksburg on
the Oleander at 1885 p. M, for the
nine-hour run to Natchez.
The governors and congressman,
when they found themselves getting
further and further behind the presi-
dent, decided to disembark at Green
Vile and make for Vicksburg by spec
ial trains. They hailed the steamer
Alton as it passed the Quincy and the
ST. Paul and sent Instructions ahead
that a special be secured at any cost.
Greenville was taken off its feet
when the distinguished delegation put
ashore there and went scurrying
across the city to catch the train.
Sandwiches and turntables We're
hastily put aboard and the spectacle
was presented of a delegation which
had come to see the river deserving
,, the waterway for the railroad. All
the governors got back aboard their
steamers last night but say they will
debark again when their boats get far
behind.
Torpedo Boat Aground.
Natchez, Miss, Oct. 29-The tor
pedo boat Thornton of the fiotilla pre-
ceding the presidential fleet from st.
Louis, reached Natchez at IL o'clock
with the news that the Wilkes is
aground near vicksburg and the
other boats of the. fleet at last reports
were with the Wilkes endeavoring to
assist her from the sand, bar Ac-
cording to the officers of the Thorn
ton the Wilkes struck the bar early in
the afternoon and was resting in an
easy position and apparently in no
immediate danger. 81
Arrangements were made to have
tug go to the assistance of the Wilkes.
Torpedo F1otilla Moves On.
Natchez, Miss. Oct. 29.-The torpedo
boat Wilkes, which ran aground 20
miles below Vicksburg yesterday, was
I f1oated late last night.
Having completed coaling, the entire
f1oti11a this morning moved out OF the
| harbor and continued the journey TO
New Orleans. The boats will proceed
slowly to their destination without
waiting for the presidential fleet.