The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-06
Receives the Most Spsctacu-
lar Reception Of His
Entire Trip
HAS VERY BUSY DAY
IN CITY OF SAVANNAH
President Witnesses an Accident in
Which Two Men Narrowly Escape
with Their Lives-Makes Short
Speech to Orphan Boys.

Charleston, S. c., November 5.-Arriv-
ing here at dusk this evening, President
Taft had one of the most picturesque re-
ceptions of his trip. At the head OF
procession of automobiles and escorted
by an imposing array of military organ
izatons, he passed through the principal
business streets of the city. under arches
of electric lights that gave an illumina-
tion almost equal to day The sidewalks
held a throng that at places overfowed
into the street and the Presidents pro-
gramme from the union station to the
home of Mayor Rhett, where he is spend
ing the night, was marked by cheers. Mr..
Taft is no stranger to Charleston. lie
has been here FIVE times in recent years
and said today in Savannah that he was
going "home to Charleston" His recep-
tion tonight was a repetition of the cor
dial welcomes the President had received
elsewhere throughout the south and
which have made his stay In this section
of the country one of the pleasantest
features of the long presidential trip.
Tonight the President was the guest
of honor at a banquet rendered to him
by the city of Charleston at the Charles
ton hotel 1t was arranged with especial
regard to the Presidents comfort, ana
the only set speeches were the introaac-
tion of the President by Mayor Rhett
ana the response by Mr.. Taft, in which
he expressed his qualification at being In
Charleston and his regret that he could
not make a longer stay. The President
leaves tomorrow morning at o'clock for
Columbia, S. c.. and will reach Augusta
tomorrow night for stay of two days.
Assist In Welcome.
Governor Ansel, Senators Tillman anu
Smith arrived in Charleston this afternoon
10 assist In the welcome to the President.
and we're among the guests OF hohor az
the banquet tonight. This is -+as<s,~tAssi-.
presidential reception in which Senator
Tillman has participated in a good many
years Until Mr.. Taft was inaugurated
Mr. Tilman had not been a caller at
the White House for long, long time
The Presidents train reached Charles
ton at $50 p. M, and he was escorteo
to Citadel Green. the old parade ground
of the South Carolina Military academy,
where the major portion of the mlntar'
escort was drawn up. The President
stopped for a few minutes at the Charles
ton Orphans home and then proceeded
TO Mayor Rhett's residence, where he
held an informal reception before pro
ceeding at 3 o'clock to t-e banquet.
President Taft had a busy day In Sa-
yannah before leaving there at 2:3o p-
M. for this city During a sail down
the river to Fort Screven during the
morning he witnessed an accidents IN
which 1t was thought at first two men
had been killed. AS matters turned out.
one man. negro, lost his arm, ana
another his eye. The two men were
firing a salute to the President from
small cannon drawn up at the water
front A premature explosion occurred
as the negro was ramning home charge
of powder and in the cloud of smoke
which followed the report of the can
non the President man flying
through the air. The man fell into the
river. The ramrod, which he had held.
shot across the bow of the revenue cut
Ter Yamacraw on the deck where the
President was standing Mr.. Taft called
attention to the accident at once. The
man struggling in the water was rescued,
however, and when the President landed
and made inquiries as to the result OF
the accident he was relieved to find there
had been no loss of life.
Great Parade.
The river trip ended the President par
ticipated in a parade through the streets
and parks of Savannah, during which ne
must have been greeted by practically
the entire population of the city lie
then went for fast spin over the auto
mobile course over which the grand prize
Ae~'~
WAYS it was the most spectacular ride
the President has ever had, veteran auto
Y that he is. The average speed for
! 25 miles was 40 miles an hour and
4 the straightaway stretches the speed
4 the Presidents car was held up TO
H miles an hour. Returning to his train
Pom luncheon at the Thunderbolt Casino,
fhe President made short dash at the
rate Of 81 miles hour. He made TINS
speed over that portion of the course
however, where the grand prize cars
averaged more than 100 miles an hour.
The record for the 400 miles of that race
was 65.5 miles an hour, which stands as
the American road record. The President
was accompanied by Gov. Joseph M.
BROWN Mayor Tiedman of Savannah and
Captain Butt and with his gray auto
mobile cap pulled down over his head,
he seemed to enjoy the ride immensely.
The chauffeur reduced speed but little
in taking the sharply banked turns.
The automobile ride was interrupted to
hermit the President to stop q few min
utes at the Bethesday Orphan Home,
where he made a little speech to the
boys telling them there was no reason
WHY any one Of them should not be-
come president of the United States. The
President also stopped once to address
a body of students from negro school,
and returning to the city he passed in
review OF all the public school children
of the city. 1t was with their enthusi-
astic, shrill little cheers ringing In his
ears that he boarded his train and left
for Charleston.
Great Applause.
Almost every sentence of Mr.. Taft's
speech at the banquet given in his honor
here tonight was interrupted with APP
plause His remarks were fined with local
allusions. He reminded the banqueters
that this was his sixth visit to Charles
ton. and that in coming here his recep-
ton was not simply that of another hos
pitable southern city, but that this was
like coming home, where he already had
friends who knew him and whom he
knew He repeated his belief that
Charleston Is the best of all ports from
which to embark for Panama, revived en-
tertatningly his experiences on the pres-