New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-19
Great Popular Demonstration
Enjoys Brilliant Weather and
Then Terrific Storm
Bursts.
KISS FOR SONS F1ANCEE
Family at End of Busy Day Speeds to
Oyster Bay. Where Whole Town
and Neighboring Places Turn Out
for Rousing Reception Upon
Arrival of Train.

Ex-President Roosevelt returned 70
his own country yesterday. after more
than a year and a quarter abroad and a
Journey of thirty thousand miles. and
found a welcome that assured him Of his
place in the hearts of his countrymen-
Some small idea of what was awaiting
him may have come to him from the let
ters and dispatches that reached him or
the other side of the Atlantic. but not
even those who were planning the recep-
ton on this side had made an adequate
guess at what really was to happen.
They expected an outpouring- TneS
planned for a reception that would thrlA
the heart of any man with pride But
even in their utmost enthusiasm and
optimism. they could not imagine whas
the scene would really be like.
Half a million persons were distributed
over land and bay. uniting in a great
cheer of welcome. 1t began of sea
Gate, when the Kaiserin Auguste VIC
toria shot out of the fog like the ex-
President diving forward to greet
friend. and lasted all the way up the
North River to the turning point Of the
naval parade. back to the Battery and
up the island again 20 Central Park
fifty miles Of cheers seven hours long
1t took the cannon Of two forts and
three warships to welcome Mr. Roose-
veIt. 1t required a naval parade and q
harbor full of merchant craft and ex-
cursion vessels and pleasure yachts Ir
needed the shores of two states lned
with cheering crowds. 1t took land
parade five miles long with a guard OF
honor lining both sides Of Fifth avenue
from Washington Square to 42d street
Nation-Wids Welcome.
It called for fifty thousand persons in
Battery Park and some hundreds OF
thousands along Broadway from the Bat
tery TO 4th street and on Fifth avenue
from washington Square TO 59th street
1t stopped work for hours in lower Ne"
York and in most of the remainder OF
the city. 1t demanded the presence OF
Mayor Gaynor and the principal city
officials. 1t brought Cabinet officers and
Of the President from
washington. 1t called for state officials q.
and a representative Of Governor Hughes
from Albany. II brought governors and
of governors from half
the states in the Union and representa-
rives from many of the principal cities
1t brought clubs and delegations and
narties from every section OF the coun-
trv. IT taxed the train service of every
railroad running into New York II
gathered the Roosevelt Rough Riders
for their first reunion in four years
II called the heads of the greatest busl-
nesses in the country from their affairs
1t even held up the weather. The 1Og
lifted when the Kaiserin came into port.
and true Roosevelt weather marked
the great demonstration The clouds
sIfpDed silent and ashamed back Of the
horizon The sun smiled from serene
sky. A perfect day was unmarried until
after the land parade was dismissed and
the crowd was well on the way home
Then Came Downpour.
But then the storm broke-thunder
and lightning, rain and hail The streets
were flooded. and thousands Of those
who had thought TO wind up gala day
we're drenched while subway stations
we're packed and all the transportation
ines of the city were taxed far beyond
their capacity.
Mr.. Roosevelt was on the way TO the
nome of Miss Eleanor Alexander, his
sons fancee. to see the wedding pres
snts when the storm began to gather
He had hardly descended from the open
automobile in which he had been riding
yhen the storm broke and a deluge Of
ain descended Those who had gath
.red in front of the house hastily sought
shelter. remarking on the Roosevelt
uck' but for more than half an hour
he sixty men OF the traffic squad who
'orned Mr.. Roosevelt's guard sat their
,addIes in the rain and were drenched
10 the skin.
But the Roosevelt luck did not wait
until Yesterday TO show itself 1t made
Is influence felt when the Kaiserin ran
nto the fog hundreds of miles out 10 sea
and shouIdered her way through IL in
lime 10 drop anchor of Quarantine and
et the demonstration get under way on
he scheduled minute.
Scarcely Change in Plans.
Few of the plans made in advance had
10 be altered through the whole course
# the affair Breakfast was had on the
Flaiserin instead of on the revenue cut
Ter Manhattan. and Mr.. Roosevelt went
n the afternoon To see the presents sent
'or the wedding of his son, Theodore. Jr..
and Miss Alexander. Save for these two
points the programme hardly missed
minute.
The vessels in the naval parade and a
great fleet of sightseeing craft We're we'll
down the Bay. searching for the fog
hidden Kaiserin. when the big liner
plunged out of the blanket and raced I'D
the channel for Quarantine at eighteen
knots. The cheers of those on the boats
mingled with the footing OF the whistles.
Mr. Roosevelt was not TO be found in
the crowd that lined the Kaiserin's four
decks on the starboard side. and Captain