The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-29
Governors and Congressman Take Train Trying to Reach
 Vicksburg on Time
CITY'S ELABORATE PLANS
 PROVED ID BE USELESS
Taft Takes Advantage of Delay on Boat and Keeps Two Secretaries
 Busy With His Accumulated Correspondence.

Vicksburg Miss, October 2s.-President Taft arrived here tonight at s.40 o'clock on the lighthouse tender Oleander. Of the proud fleet of gorgeously decorated ves- sels that pointed their prows at St. Louis al o'clock on Monday afternoon only two were in sight when the President landed and gave himself into the hands of an enthusiastic but sadly disappointed local committed
 He received a joyous welcome from sev- eral hundred faithful watchers at the water front. The steamer Erastus Wells originally set apart for members of the cabinet who were on board the Oleander. and the Illinois, bearing delegation from that state doclSed here tonight soon after the President had stepped ashore. The St Paul which started out with one half of the governors of the United States on board. and the Quincy which started with Speaker Cannon and large array of senators and representatives as pas sengers, were among the slower vessels that were nowhere 10 be seen during the Presidents stay here The governors and congressman debarked at Greenville to- day and came to Viclksburg this afternoon by train. They will board their boats again tonight for the run to Natchez
 The schedule of the river trip has gone all to pieces and although 1t Is planned now to have the President walt outside Of New Orleans Saturday until most of the boats can join him there the chances are that this scheme will have to be abandoned if MT. Taft is to set foot in the city during daylight In making up the schedule of the trip it is said that the maximum speed of the fast boats and the slow boats were added together and an average speed struck for all. This was all right for the fast ones, but how the slow ones were expected to keep up is a mystery that river men say they are un- able to solve. President Taft tried to re- main with the fleet as long as possible. but he was four hours late at Memphis and two hours late at Helena
 Alignment Is Abandoned.
 After conversation last night orders were issued annulling the alignment as originally made and each steamer was expected to look out for herself and get to New Orleans as soon as possible re- gardless of any other vessel
 Governors Noel of Mississippi and Sun ders of Louisiana were taken on board the Oleander in order that they might be with the President at his stops in those states and the little lighthouse tender one of the most modest but fieeIest boats Of the river set out at full speed to per init the President to keep his engage ments as nearly as possible.
 The people of Vieksburg one of the great strongholds of the Confederacy, made great plans for entertaining tie President. The President was looking for ward with infinite pleasure to a three hours drive this afternoon over the famous battlefelds. The city had been elaborately decorated in his honor and ,lll that was left of the programme to be was the buffet supper which was held at the Elks club. The President made a speech in which he expressed his deep regret and chagrin that the schedule of the river trip had been so unsatisfactory as to cut his visit to Vicksburg so short
 Torpedo Boats Still Ahead.
 The President has not yet caught up with the four torpedo boat destroyers that were to act his escort down the river. The grim little vessels were at St. Louis few days before his arrival. but falling water in the river sent them scurrying over the sandbars just below the Missouri metropolis In search of deeper water. It was said they would join the waterways fleet at Hickman. but further fall of water sent them further down the river. Memphis was the next point assigned for a rendezvous for the escort, but when the President ar rived the destroyers had gone ahead. Just where they will join company with the Oleander no one aboard the latter had any knowledge.
 The first the people of vlcksburg knew of the nearly seven hours delay in the arrival of the President was when a message was received from Greenvillc. 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 com pany there.
 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 until just before the arrival here. He took occasion. 700, to cQaversa freely with the three members of cabinet on board the Oleander. the Secretary of War, the Postmaster General and he Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
 Dlsembark at GreenviIie.
 The governors and congressman. when they found themselves getting further and further behind the President, this decided to disembark at Green vile and make for Nicksburg by special train. They hailed the steamer Alton as 1t passed the Quincy and the St. Paul and sent in instructions ahead that d special be secured at any cost. Green vile was taken of it's feet when the dis tinguished delegation put ashore there and went scurrying three-quarters Of a mile across the city to catch the .rain. and drnkables were hastily put aboard and the spectacle was pre- sented of a delegation which had como ---------------~>>-->>-~>~~>
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