CHAPTER I. 



Thousands Cheer Former President Roosevelt's Departure 

 FOR Africa — Every Ship, Ferry Boat and Tug Joined in 

 The Demonstration Shrilly with their Whistles — The 

 Two Forts Guarding the Entrance to New York Harbor 

 Fired the ex-President's Salute — President 'J^aft Sends 

 Farewell by his Military Aide — Col. Roosevelt Replies 

 Characteristically by Telegraph — High Officials and 

 Distinguished Citizens Pay their Respect anp at the 

 Ship say: "Bon Voyage ET au Revoir/' 



M 



ARCH 4, 1909, was the most disagreeable Inauguration Day 

 ever witnessed at Washington. The terrific storm had 

 blocked trains and leveled telegraphic wires. Thousands of people 

 en route to witness the ceremonies incident to the transfer of the 

 Presidency of the United States from Theodore Roosevelt to 

 William Howard Taft, never reached Washington at all. The 

 storm was so severe in snow, wind and low temperature tha.t the 

 regulation ceremonies outside the capitol building were abandoned 

 entirely. 



It was remarked, facetiously of course, that the furious stoi^m 

 was brought about because a strenuous man was relinquishing his 

 hold on the ship of state and that the man who is the greatest per- 

 sonal force in the world, influenced the very elements. Moreover, 

 this king of human strenuosity was soon to match his vigorous, 

 constant action against the king of animal strenuosity in fearless- 

 ness, ferocity and endurance, the lion. 



On March 23, at 1 1 A. M., Col. Roosevelt boarded the steam- 

 ship Hamburg for the first stage of his voyage to Africa. 



His departure was one of the most thrilling scenes ever 

 witnessed in New York. Not since the time when General Grant 

 began his tour of the world was such a farewell given to a departing 

 citizen ; and the old timers who were present when the civil war hero 



H. B. G.— 2 17 



