The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-27
a ROOSEVELT INCIDENT.

Colonel T. H. Brown, in the Siou1
Falls Argus-Leader: Medora, In the
Bad Lands Of North Dakota, on the
Northern Pacific railway. twent.-f Ave
miles east OF the east line OF Mon.
tana, was the ranch home of Mr..
Roosevelt after his college days, there
In search of health. He pursued that
search With as much vigor and deter
mination as In after years he pursued
big game in the jungles Of Africa.
He was In the saddle most of the
time. but he captured his health.
About eight years ago ! had bust
ness with Mr.. Smith, big ranch
man In eastern Montana, about fifty
miles from 'Medora- The Smiths were
from Boston, refined and intelligent.
They were on the ranch for their
daughters health and were practical
believers in the rough life Mrs.
Smith told me Of the Roosevelt Incl
dent.
I On Saturday afternoon the
young man rode up to the front gate,
gave his name and his ranch and
said he would like to stay over night
! The ranchers were very hospitable,
especially with each other, SO he re-
ceiyed hearty welcome. or course
they found the young man very inter
esting- We were sitting on the porch
where they sat last Saturday evening
after supper, many years ago. In
the strawstack yard nearby the cow
boys would often gather for bout
at wrestling and boxing. On this
particular evening knowing there
was stranger in the porch audi
ence. they were giving a good exhi-
bition of their prowess In the manly
sport Interest drew Roosevelt near
the pen. They invited him into the
ring, saying they would not be rough
with him. on came his coat. He
rolled up his sleeves and put on the
gloves They were not rough with
him. butt in a few minutes he out
boxed and downed every one of the
boys. He was the cowboys hero
They pronounced him a true sport
and invited him to join In the poker
game that night He declined with
strong lecture and there was no
poker game that night. Sunday morn
ing he was invited to remain during
the day, as they were going to have
religious services in the gulch near
the house. telling him they thought
he would enjoy meeting the minister
who would be there for dinner Mr..
Roosevelt would be delighted to meet
the minister and attend the meeting.
The time for the meeting was 2 |
o'clock They delayed dinner until |
o'clock; but no minister. The |
Smith family and Mr.. Roosevelt went i
TO the gulch; perhaps 100 people had /
come, on horseback, buggies, wagons /
and even OK teams. The minister
was well known and popular Two |
o'clock still no minister, but phone |
message that he was taken suddenly |
Ill and could not be with them.
There was great disappointment,
some were about to leave, when Mr..
Roosevelt inquired whether anyone /
had hymnbook: yes, several. He
said: We can have a few songs. Miss
Smith Will lead u.s. He then in
1uired for a bible; no bible. He
quoted quite number OF verses from
he scripture. He began talking quite
but he soon seemed to be
carried away and for more than an 7,
hour he held us speIlbound by his
practical eloquence. We forgot the
not day and blazing sun. There were .
through the audience, I
Who is he? Where did he come
romT i,
The great light was within him. /;
Wonder whether he was aware of It, ]
CODCi INC THE AcKEnc Il