New-York tribune., 1909-04-15
PRESIDENT IN TOWN
WITH HRS. TAFT HE GOES
TO THE1TRE.
His automobile Breaks Dozen T7cice
Gets Ont IN a Drifting
Rain at Night.

President Taft arrived in this city last night
and, with Mrs. Taft and a party. attended the
performance Of f H Sothern in IF 1 Were
King at Days Theatre.
The first act was when the party entered
the theatre. The second box from the stage
Box c. on the right entering the theatre, on the
orchestra floor. had been reserved for the Presi-
dents party. They entered the box unobserved
The theatre had been darkened and even the
stage vas ir partial darkness IN the dull light
two Secret Service men took their stations in
the rear of the Presidents box, and two others
took seats directly under the box.
After Mr.. Sothern had taken his last curtain
call after the first act the lights turned
up and the orchestra leader had his men play
The Star Spanged Banner" This brought the
audience To its feet. and it was then that the
President discovered. There was great
applause. the audience cheering until the last
strains Of the music had died away.
The President was carefully guarded during
the performance. but in such manner that ii
was not annoying to the party and was apparent
only to those who We're cognizant of the precau-
tionS taken.
When the curtain went down on the last act
policemen were stationed at the head of each
aisle and the foot of each balcony staircase. No
one was allowed to depart until the President
and his party had left the house
The route TO the home Of Henry ". Taft
east from Broadway through 32d street to Fifth
avenue and north in Fifth avenue TO 4Sth street
At 4$d street the auto in which the President
riding came to a standstill. As it dis
ahled. the President and Mrs Taft left the
chine in driving rain and got into Henry W.
Taft's auto. the Presidents military aid climb
ing into the with the Secret Service and
Central Office men.
The Presidents trip from Washington was
without incident. He travelled in private car
attached TO the regular New York express OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad The trip was a half
holiday for the President and ne thoroughly
enjoyed the rest Mr.. Taft usually spends from
eight TO nine hours a day in the executive Offices
Of the White House. and yesterdays respite
enjoyed bG- contrast.
Arriving at Jersey City at 6.:!7 =. m. the
President and Mrs. Taft, with their son Robert
and several Of his schoolmates who have been
Easter guests at the White House, were driven
to the home Of Henry W. Taft. in West 18th
street. Captain Archibald Butt. the Presidents
senior military aid. In the party. Miss
Helen Taft with schoolmate from BTyn Mawr.
accompanied her mother and father as far as
Philadelphia. where she changed cars to return
TO her studies. Robert Taft IS returning 10
Yale.
a second machine containing five Secret Service
men and several Central Office detectives This.
in turn. was followed from the ferry house by
a squad OF six bcvcle patrolmen
The ride from the West 23d street ferry was
not without incident Upon his arrival in this
city. and when the automobile in which he rode
was wing the ferryboat. the machine appeared
TO be in good condition. but Eleventh avenue
and 25th street it came to a sudden stop. The
chauffeur worked all the levers but the Presi-
dents car refused bulge Finally the chauf-
feur got out and crawled under the car, and
then reported that it was disabled.
The automobile in which the Secret Service
men and the Central Office detectives We're rid
ing stopped just in the of the Presidents
vehicle, When the chauffeur made his report
the officers aliChted and offered the Of their
machine 10 Mr.. Taft and his party The offer
was accepted and Mrs Taft and a woman friend
who had been guest at the Executive Man
sion were helped in. After the President and
Captain Butts had entered. a second start was
made for the home gf Henry ". Taft.
In the mean time Of the detectives had
telephoned for taxcab b. but before it arrived
the chauffeur succeeded in remedying the defect
that had disabled the Taft machine The Secret
Service men and detectives again took their
seats and the chauffeur made such good time
that the Presidents conveyance was overtaken
before his destination was reached.
The President will leave here for New Haven
this morning at 9 O'Clock attend meeting Of
the Yale Corporation. and be will return 20 this
city tonight arriving about o'clock according
to the present arrangements.
COTTAGE FOR PRESIDENT.