Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-29
SEES CITY FROM AUTO
President Taft Welcomed to
Natchez by Great Throng.
MAKES A BRIEF ADDRESS
Various Circumstances Delay His
Boat Several Hours.
HOT RACE FOR SECOND PLACE
Not Known When the Chief Exec
utive Will Reach New Or
leans Tomorrow.

HATCHEZ. Miss, October 23.-Not since
the day the battleship Mississippi visited
Natchez and won the river speed record
from this city to New Orleans has there
been such a crowd on the bluff as that
which greeted President Taft upon his
arrival here this morning, on board the
lighthouse tender Oleander.
President Taft was greeted here by
Mayor Benbrook and reception COM
mittee. The mayor made a brief address
of welcome. and the President made a
happy response.
Leaving the steamer, the President and
many OF the visiting governors, who ar
rived OH the steamer ST. Paul, were
taken for an automobile drive through
the city. The ride ended at d court of
honor on the bluff, where the President
made d brief address.
Hours Behind Time.
The President was nearly three hours
behind time Eight of the other vessels
of the waterways fleet were in sight when
the Oleander pointed her nose into the
bank This was due to the fact tnat the
Oleander, which shook off all the other
boats yesterday in the run to Vicks,urs
ana caused the governors and congress-
men temporarily to desert their steam
ers for special train, got into difficulties
lerself last night and could not make
ner usual speed. One of the regular fire
men had to be put ashore at Memphis
on account of Illness and a green hand
at the fires succeeded in choking them.
Another reason for the long delay in
reaching here was that the boats arriy-
ing at Ficksburg after the Oleander
last night crowded into the harbor canal
In direct violation OF the orders and
blockaded the exit of the President. The
Oieander had to LAY to" for an hour
and a half after casting off from the
shore. Every pilot or master blamed the
other for the choked condition of the
haroor, and 1t required a great deal of
tact to get things Strengthened out.
Race for Second Place.
Once out of Vicksburg harbor there oc-
CURED another incident which is likely
to cause trouble to some OF the river men.
The Erastus Wells won second place in
the line yesterday . in the free-for-all
run from Helena to Vicksburg. The
steamer Alton, which is declared to be
faster than the Wells, tried to push into
second place as the Oleander was leav-
ing last night and for a minute or more
there was an exciting and dangerous
scene suggestive of the old days on the
Mississippi. Great clouds of curling
black smoke poured from the tall stacks
set athwart ship on the two boats and
occasional flashes Of flame burst from
the black clouds. The masters were try
ing to push each other out of line as they
rushed along. The race continued until
the two racers were almost at the stern
wheel OF the Oleander. AS they came
within hailing distance, Commander Till
man, admiral of the fleet, called some
atat,
things straight. He directed the Alton
to drop asrern of the Wells and the
race was over.
Secretary Nagel of the Department Of
Commerce and Labor, under whose d1rec-
ton Is the steamboat service was on the
top deck of the Oleander watching the
midnight race.
Expected Arrival at New Orleans.
Just what time the Oleander will reach
New Orleans tomorrow is not known. She
will make but one more stop on the way,
at Baton Rouge tonight but as the boil
ers are working badly she will not be able
to maintain her average speed.
The idea of waiting outside of New
Orleans for the struggling members of the
fleet has been abandoned. and the Olean-
der will enter the city just soon as she
can get there. 1t is hoped this will be by
!
der making greatly reduced speed last
night some of the older vessels in the
line had to puff and wheeze and blacken
the horizon with their smoke TO keep
within hailing distance.
There is quite a controversy on as to
who arranged the schedule TO New Or
leans Some blame ii on Washington
some on the ST. Louis committee and
some on various other persons. Com
mander Tillman informed some of those
in charge of the excursion that the boats
would not be able to keep to the desig-
mated speed, but he was asked not to say
any thing about it.
President in Jocular Vein.
In his speech at Vicksburg late last
night President Taft had little fun
| with the congressman on the river trip
and on board whose steamer. it is said.
| nine poker tables were provided. Ad-
dressing the presiding officer at the Elks'
| Club the President said:
You have intimated that somebody
thought il was a junket. Well, that de-
pends upon what you mean by a junket
! II II is to be defined the man defined
| wife with him 1t is a junket If a junket
no work and no effort in 1t. then I DENY
| that 1t is a junket.
! If you had seen the efforts made at
oratory on board the congressional
| steamer as il came down the river you
| would understand that they were stu
practicing their profession. If you had
| attended a the meeting ho poyarpors