FROM NEW YORK TO MOMBASA 81 



companions. Here also he made a brief speech, ending humorously 

 with the words: 



"Everybody has been very kind to me, but I think it must be an 

 infernal nuisance to have a retired President on board." 



Three days later, on April 5, the harbor of Naples was entered, 

 the ''Hamburg" reaching her voyage end at that great and famous 

 metropolis of Southern Italy. Roosevelt's stay here was to be short, but 

 it was one of continuous ovation. As the great steamer entered the 

 harbor it was greeted by a deafening peal of steam whistles, the music 

 of many bands, and a splendid show of bunting from the vessels of 

 all types and nations that occupied the ample bay. There was present 

 an Italian warship and a multitude of other craft, all gay with flags 

 and bunting from stem to stern. 



On land the welcome was as enthusiastic. Had our plain Ameri- 

 can tourist been a conquering king returning from a glorious cam- 

 paign, he could not have been received more heartily by the vast crowd 

 assembled to gaze on the late head of the American republic. Floral 

 offerings were superabundant, among them a great group of red, white 

 and black carnations from Emperor William and a splendid garland 

 of fragrant blooms from the Empress. A letter from the Emperor 

 accompanied the gift, cordially inviting him to stop at Berlin on his 

 return and ending with "Hail to the successful huntsman!" 



On landing, the Hotel Excelsior was sought, where the traveler 

 met various Italian officials and was greeted by scores of prominent 

 Americans. He subsequently had an interview with the Duke and 

 Duchess of Aosta in their splendid palace at Capodimente, affairs of 

 state preventing the King of Italy from meeting him during his brief 

 stay. 



From Naples the traveler proceeded to Messina, the scene of the 

 recent devastating earthquake. His observations here were condensed 

 in a telegraph cable message in which he warmly praised the splendid 

 work done at Messina and Reggio with the building lumber shipped 

 from this country. Visiting the American camp, he found two hun- 

 dred and fifty houses already completed and arrangements made for 

 the rapid construction of one thousand two hundred and fifty more. 

 The work was under the general direction of Ambassador Griscom 



