Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-24
ROOSEVELT ON
WAY TO AT RIGA
TO HUNT LIONS
FORMER PRESIDENT SAILS ON
STEAMER HAMBURG
GREAT CROWDS CHEER PARTY
AT NEW YORK HAR5oR
Great Vessel Msgnficently Prepared
Voyage AuspiciousIy 5egun-last
Message Is to Taft-stam-
pede at Docks
CONTINUED from Page One,

(C0ntlnueu OAS'
times. but he was not hurt and smiled
through it all. A..
Accompanying the big ship down the
bav was the tug John j. Timmins whlch
had on board a large number OF trlenuS
of the ex-president among them, many
who had been associated with MN III
his official life.
From his country home at Oyster Bay
to the steamship dock in Hoboken, the
former presidents route resempled
triumphaI march, the greetings OF the
crowds which had. gathered to wish nm
good luck being expressed all along
the way in enthusiastic cheers.
feature of the trip was that Mr.
Roosevelt rode for the first time IN the
tunnel under the Hudson from new
York to Jersey City.
Great Throng Awaits
When he arrived at the Hamburg
American line pier the former president
| found a densely packed throng OF MS
| fellow countrymen gathered, ana as ne
appeared loud cheers greeted hlm. he
smiled and bowed right and lett III
| cordial acknowledgment of the saiuta-
tions of the assemblage, and evidently
was much pleased at the warmth ana
| sincerity of the demonstration in his
| honor. -,
Mr.. Roosevelt gave a short talk to
| the newspapermen on board the liam
burg. He greeted them at the door
way of his suite.
"Now. gentlemen. am glad to see
YOU" he said What can l tell you?
| oh. YES, there is that picture (poihting
! to a portrait of Mr.. Taft. 1t is very
interesting and very fine; don't you
think so?
gentlemen, there is one thing de-
| sire very much to have you say for
| TT, to i,1aro 10 of mail
on board this ship. which has come to
me and which l have not been able
| to open, and much of which l Will not
| be able to open for some time. L nave
no stenographer with me.
| "Since I left the White House l have
received about 5000 or 5000 letters.
| "Four-fifths of those l have not even
seen. My thanks to the people who
sent them is, however, none the less.
| Now, / wish that you would say for
me that it will be only a waste of time
| for anyone to write to me while am
in Africa Again. l will say that L
deeply appreciate the courtesy of those
who have written me and take this
occasion to give them my thanks"
One of the reporters in the party
broke into the conversation with the
interjection:
Throws Up His Hands
Some one told me, Colonel, that you
were going to be our next president"
Mr.. Roosevelt Immediately threw up
both hands and exclaimed:
"Goodby, gentlemen, goodby."
But he was still smiling when the
| interview closed:
| M. Jusserand, the French ambassa-
dor, and Mrs Jusserand went aboard
| the steamer shortly after Mr.. Roose-
yeIt's party arrived and were escort
ed to the Roosevelt quarters. They
conversed with Mrs. Roosevelt for
some time.
A notable feature of the reception
on the steamer was tribute to the
former president by the Italian cham
her of commerce of New York city.
This body presented a bronze tablet
bearing on one side portrait of the
former president and on the other the
scene of the Sieilian earthquake and
representation of the goddess of
Peace placing a wreath on Rooseyelts
head. The tablet was inscribed:
ITO Theodore Roosevelt-to you and
the United States: A tribute of
thanksgiving from Italo-Americans
for generous help to their stricken
brethren of Calabria and Sicily"
Several delegations from italian So
cieties were present, bringing band,
| floral Offering and large banner,
which was erected on the pier 1t bore
| Ile llSClIpllOii'
"Long Live Roosevelt"
"Italo-A Americans: Let us shout
Long live Roosevelt and the United
States
"a tribute of thanksgiving on behalf
of our brethren of Sicily and Calabria.
Let us solemnly condemn any crime
staining Italy's name. Let us here
pledge our loyalty to American insti-
| tutions Long live American"
| Shortly before the steamer sailed
Mr.. Roosevelt, escorted by detach-
ment of local police, appeared at the
after gangway which led to the pier.
The police had cleared an open space
across the pier to the spot where the
ItaIo-Americans had a bronze tablet
in readiness to present him. The ap-
| pearance of Mr.. Roosevelt was the sig
nal of tremendous cheering by the
crowds on the pier and on the steam
! er's deck.
As he came down the gangplank the
| cheering crowd and party of college
| boys from Stevens institute in Hobo
ken let loose their college yells. On
the way across the pier the lines of
! notice escorting Mr.. Roosevelt were
broken through by the pressure or the
| eager crowd and the ex-president was
swept toward the tablet by the rush.
The crowd closed in solidly behind
| him, ana while the pOllce were tiluChN :
oring to fight off the onrushing crowd
Mr.. Roosevelt asked the speakers to
make the presentation ceremony very
| brief
Makes Brief Address
The Italian orator cut short his
lengthy address. stating that the tab
let was presented by the Italians in
appreciation of what Mr. Roosevelt
had caused to be done for the suffer-
ing people of Southern Italy and Ca
labria. Mr.. Roosevelt in reply said:
II appreciate this very much. l want
to thank you all. | cannot tell you
how deeply touched | am"
Mr.. Roosevelt, seeing that the crowd
was becoming unmanageable. gave
directions that the tablet be sent to
Mrs. Roosevelt and turned back
toward the forward gangplank of the
steamer The police did their best to
clear a way for him, but the crowd
became demonstrative and many per
| sons tried to shake the ex-president S
hand. The police took firm grip upon
| the situation, pushed back the crowd
and rushed Mr.. Roosevelt toward the
| steamer.
In the process two OF the policemen
were knocked off their feet, but were
not injured. As he neared the gang
plank Mr. Roosevelt's hat blew off ana
a vacuum bottle which had been pre-
! scented to him by a party of Pittsburg