The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-22
President Taft and Par
ty Scurrying Through
Caribbean.
HIS DEPARTU RE
is IMPRE SSIVE
Continuous Cannonading as Com
mander-in-Chi Goes Aboard
Dreadnought Arkansas and
Giant Vessel Steams Out of
Harbor, Conveyed by Bat
tleship Delaware.

Key West. Fla. December 2l.-Presi-
dent Taft and his party are scnrrying
through the Caribbean tonight. headed
toward the southern cross. with Col on
Panama their objective point. On
board the battlesip Arkansas. conveyed
by the battleship Delaware. tho
Executive and his suite left here late
this afternoon.
The departure was an impressive
sight Commanding officers from the
two sea fighters met the President at
the railroad station with a band, while
most of Key Vests population trailed
along behind. The Executive was
driven through the city and made a
brief speech. calling attention TO the
the fact that he had al last achieved
his ambition to-day in reaching Key
West Of having touched the four cor
ncrs OF the United States.
Continuous CannonsdIpg.
From the time the Executive reached
Key West until the Arkansas steamed
out of the harbor his ears were smote
by the sound OF almost continuous
cannonading. He received two salvos
at the artillery station, whittier lie
was driven in an automobile; got an
other twenty-One guns from the gun
boat Peoria when they passed her.
and separate saIutes from both the Ar
kansas and the Delaware.
Just before he left the President die
tated a telegram 10 Mayor Behrmann.
of New Orleans. advising him that II
was Impossible 10 accept the citys in
vitation and return via New Orleans.
Necessity of reaching Washington i'll
plenty of time before the New Year
reception was given as the reason for
carrying out plans as already mapped
ont. However, the President did change
his return itinerary so as to make q
threehour stop at Palm Beach. After
viewing the city from an automobile
the President and his party went direct
to the docks. There they were met by
the presidential barge.
AS soon as the commander in chic
stepped abroard the Arkansas and the
executives flag was run up her fore
mast, the presidential salute thunder
ed out from both the big battleships.
Almost Immediately the Arkansas hoist
ed anchor and steamed out OF tho
harbor. One thousand Yards astern.
the Delaware. bearing the newspaper
men and moving picture operators.
caught the same course and dwindled
away against the dUsky sky as she
sped out at a twenty-knot rate. Be
fore long the President was actually
out of the United States-on the high
seas.
Every arrangement has been made
TO keep the President in touch with
national affairs. The wireless Will con-
vey dispatches 70 him from Was hing
ton and transmit his instructions. In
deed, the newspaper men aboard the
Delaware were marocned by special
orders. which prevented their using
the wireless on the ground that II
would interfere with transmission and
receiving on the Arkansas.
Kidding Himself of Cold.
Under balmy skies the President al
most succeeded to-day in Kidding him
self OF the bad cold that last week
forced cancellation of all his engage
ments- For six hours to-day Taft ard
his party rode on the observation plat
form OF his private car viewing the
over seas extension. \ moving pictu-e
man preserved on celluloid films the
executives keen interest in the en-
cheering feat
In the Presidents party on the Ar
kansas are. Mrs Taft. Mr.. and Mrs
Charles =. Taft, Mr. and Mrs Charles
D. Hilles and Assistant Secretary Of
the Navy Beekr1an Winthrop 4 cook.
several maids and other servants were
also taken aboard. The party is due
TO arrive at Colon. Panama. Tuesday
morning.