8o FROM NEW YORK TO MOMBASA 



In former times the Atlantic traveler cut loose from the world. 

 During his voyage the only world he knew was the cramped and 

 narrow one bounded by the walls and decks of the ship. The ocean of 

 tossing waves cut him off from all beside. But in these days we have 

 "reformed all that." Wireless telegraphy keeps us in touch with the 

 land we have left and the land to which we are bound, and all through 

 his voyage the darting of the electric waves through hundreds of aerial 

 miles told our traveler of what was being done on land and told the 

 friends he had left the daily occurrences of his life at sea. 



One of these was rather startling. The news came that a crazed 

 Italian, a steerage passenger, had sought to assassinate him and had 

 been seized and fettered in the stronghold of the ship. It gave, how- 

 ever, only a passing thrill to those at home, for it was quickly con- 

 tradicted and proved to be based upon an event of small significance. 



The harbor of Fayal, in the Azores, was reached on March 29. 

 Roosevelt landed at Horta, the island capital, and was taken a two 

 hours' drive about the town by the governor. A second stop was made 

 at Ponta Delgada, the largest city on the group and the third in size 

 of Portuguese cities. Here the ex-President met with a real peril, far 

 more dangerous than that of the crazed Italian. 



There was a rough sea on, so boisterous that only three passen- 

 gers were willing to accompany the intrepid Roosevelt in the small 

 boat that took him ashore. It was on his return, after visiting the 

 United States Consul and seeing the city, that the peril was encoun- 

 tered. The small boat was tossed about like a cockle-shell on the 

 unquiet sea, and as it neared the ship was dashed violently against its" 

 side. At the same time a ten-foot wave rolled over it, drenching the 

 travelers to the waist. Roosevelt coolly waited his chance, made a 

 leap at the right moment, his hand was caught by the first officer, and 

 in an instant more he was safe on board. 



The next stopping place was at Gibraltar, which was reached on 

 April 2. Here Colonel Roosevelt had the opportunity to make a thor- 

 ough inspection of this impregnable outlying fortress of Great Britain. 

 Certain festivities also took place, including a dinner and a dance, in 

 which Roosevelt, w^ho is little given to "twirl the light fantastic toe," 

 consented to open the ball with Miss Draper, one of his traveling 



