Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-23
ROOSEVELT ON WAY
TO AFRICAN W|LDS
Mobbed on Pier by Crowd
Gathered to Wish Him
Godspeed.
UNHURT, BUT LOSES HAT
Italians Present Tablet Commemo-
rating Earthquake.
HANDS OF MULTITUDE SHAKEN
Former President, With Son at His
Side, Standing on Hurricane
Deck, Waves Goodbye to
America as Ship Sails Away.


NEW YORK, March Outstanding on
acknowledging the enthusiastic cheering
of thousands Of persons who had assem-
bled to bid him goodbye. Theodore
Roosevelt sailed for Africa today.
He was smiling happily and showed un-
mistakably his pleasure at the warmth
of the demonstration accorded him.
Beside him on the bridge stood his son.
Kermit. and Capt. Burmeister. command
er of the vessel.
The big ship left her pier at six min
utes past IL o'clock. She slowly made
her way out into the channel amid cheers
that completely drowned the music of the
bands. which were playing THE Star
Spangled Banner"
The distinguished traveller was still on
the bridge watching the scene as the ves-
sci was warped out into the stream and
headed down the bay on the start on her
journey. The cheering continued as long
e.
Accompanying the big ship down the
bay was the tug John ]. Timmins, which
had on board a large number of friends
of the ex-President. among them many
who had been associated with him In his
official life.
Cheered ALI Along Route.
From his country home at Oyster Bay
to the steamship dock in Hoboken the
former Presidents route resembled a tri-
umphal MARCH. Greetings of crowds
gathered to wish him good luck were ex-
pressed 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.
When he arrived at the Hamburg-Amer-
lean line pier, where he boarded the steam
ship Hamburg, the ex-President found
densely packed throng of his fellow
countrymen gathered together. AS he
appeared loud cheers greeted him. He
smiled and bowed right and left in cor
dial acknowledgment of the salutations
Of the assemblage, and evidently was
much pleased at the warmth and sincerity
OF the demonstration in his honor.
Caught in the Crush.
on the Hoboken pier and lost his hat and
a small leather case which he carried in
his pocket. A large force of police re-
stored order and escorted Mr.. Roosevelt
back to the gangplank and recovered his
lost articles for him.
Mr. Roosevelt was not hurt.
The crowds on the pier and on the
steamer were so great that the ex-Presi
dent was severely jostled several times.
He was not hurt and smiled through it
all
One OF the ex-President's last acts be-
fore the vessel sailed was to send a mes
sage to President Taft. President Taft's
goodbye gift 10 his predecessor was gold
pencil inscribed with the words Goodbye
and good luck"
Last Talk to Newspapermen.
Mr.. Roosevelt gave a short talk 10 the
newspaper men on board the Hamburg
He greeted them at the doorway Of his
suite
Now. gentlemen. am glad to see you, :
he said What can tell you?
''Oh. yes. There is the picture" indi-
eating portrait of President Taft. 1T
Is very interesting, and very tine. Don't
you think so?'
"Oh. gentlemen, there is one thing that
desire very. much to have you say for
me- There is an immense mass OF mail on
board this steamship which has come to
me and which 1 have not been able to
open, and much of which / will not be
able 10 open for some time
Il have no stenographer with me- Since
i LETT the White House ! have received
about 900 or 5000 letters Four-fiftns
of these have not even seen. MY thanks
10 the people who sent them are, however
none the less.
Now. / wish you would say for me
that II will b only waste OF time for any
one TO write 10 me while I am away in
Africa Again, Will say that deeply ap-
preciate the courtesy of those who have
written me. and take this occasion 10
give them my thanks.
One of the reporters in the party broke
into the conversation with the interjec-
ton:
Some one told me. colonel. YOU we're
xoinS TO be our next President"
Mr.. Roosevelt Immediately threw up
both hands and exclaimed:
Goodbye. gentlemen: goodbye
But he stil smiling when the IN
teryiew closed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jusserand on Hand.
Mr.. Jusserand. ;lle Fren n ambassador
and Mrs. Jusserand. went aboard the
steamer shortly after Mr.. Roosevelt's :
party arrived and We're escorted to the
travellers quarters. They conversed with
Mr.. Roosevelt for some time.
notable feature of the reception on
the steamer was tribute to the eN-Pres-
ident by the Italian Chamber of Commerce
of New York city This body presented IA
bronze tablet bearing on one SIDE "A por-
trait of the ex-Pres.dent and on the other
the scene of the Gillian earthquake and
representation OF the Goddess of Peace
placing a wreath on Roosevelt's head.
The tablet was Inscribed:
ITO Theodore Roosevelt: To you and
the United States. a tribute of thanksgiv-
ing from Italo-Americans for generous
help to their stricken brethren of Gala
bra and Sicily"
Several delegations from Italian socie-
ties were present bringing band a
floral offering and large banner, which
was erected on the pier. 1t bore the in
scription:
'.Itaio- Americans: Let us shout Long
Continued on Ninth PaSe)