Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
PRESIDENT AND WIFE
ON TRIP UP JAMES RIVER
Land at Several Spots to Visit Scenes
Connected With Early Days
of United States.
STOP AT HISTORIC MANSIONS
Party Travels SiXty-Two Miles, Passes
Hopewell and Comes to Within
Few Miles Of acknowledges
ut Landings Recognize Executive.
TOP AT HISTORIC MANSIONS

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, May 49,
President Wilson to-day forgot, fc the
time being. the difficulties of the Ger
man and Mexican situations and cruised
along the historic James River on the
naval yacht Sylph, landing at several
spots to visit scenes intimately con-
nected with the early days of the
United States No important messages
came from Washington to disturb the
quiet of his weekend visit. He does
not plan to return to the White House
until Monday morning.
Although the President has been in
Newport News before, he never had
landed at so many places nor seen the
historic spots visited to-day. He has
planned for several months to go to
these scenes associated with the lives
of several former Presidents Of the
United States. and to-day he carried
out his intention.
The President arrived off Newport
News ut 1880 a. NJ on the naval yacht
Mayf1ower. accompanied by Mrs. Will
son, Miss Margaret Wilson, his daugh-
ter; Mrs. w. II. Boiling. Mrs. Wilson's
mother; Miss Bertha Boiling, Mrs. Will
Mrs. Wilson's brother. and two Secret
Service men. The Sylph was waiting
here. and the party was Immediately
transferred to her, and the trip up the
James River began.
PASS HOPEWELL AND WITHIN
FEW MILES OF RICHMOND
Passing by jamestown Island. where
are erected statues OF Captain John
Smith and Pocahontas. an ancestor of
Mrs. Wilson. the Sylph continued to
Shirley, the homestead of the old Car
ter family Of Virginia. where the first
stop was made The President and his
party spent an hour on shore visiting
the old mansion. During the ride up
the river the President travelled sixty
two miles, and passed Hopewell. the
site OF the immense Du Pont powder
factory. He went within n few miles
Of Richmond.
On the return trip the birthplace of
former President Tyler was passed, and
another stop was made at Lower Bran
don, the former home of Ex-President
William Henry Harrison, where another
old Colonial mansion was visited. At
Westover, the former home of William
Byrd, Colonial official. the President
planted poplar tree on tho lawn In
front Of the mansion.
At each stop the President was
quickly recognized by negroes gathered
at the landings. He and Mrs Wilson
were warmly received by the present
occupants of the old mansions visited.
and he spent some time asking ques-
tions about tho traditions connected
with each spot. Some Of the people
to whom he spoke had never seen a
President before.
The Sylph did not return to Newport
News until after 10 O'Clock tonight.
Mr.. Wilson and.his party were immedi-
ately transferred to the Mayflower and
spent tho night OH board her anchored
Off the shipbulding yard here. a Brit
tsh tramp steamer at anchor drifted
so near during the night that Captain
Berry, Of the Mayf1ower, sent an
officer In launch to request the COM
mander to move further away. The
President and Mrs. Wilson probably
will come ashore at Newport News to-
morrow.