20 ROOSEVELT'S DEPARTURE FOR AFRICi^. 



had been made by a steerage passenger to assassinate the former 

 President. The story was cabled all over the world and printed by 

 the sensational press in elaborate details even to the placing of the 

 would-be-assassin in irons. 



Upon reaching Gibraltar Col. Roosevelt, learning that such a 

 story had been sent out, indignantly denied it. After doing this he 

 went to the deck belonging to the third class passengers and shook 

 the hand of each. He expressed himself as feeling that a great in- 

 justice had been done the poor people traveling in the steerage and 

 he desired to express to them his sympathy that even one among 

 them had been singled out by a sensational press for such a scandal 

 w^hen there was no reason for it. 



At Gibraltar Col. Roosevelt was cordially received by United 

 States Consul Greevy and Vice Consul Nichols as well as by the 

 British Governor. 



RECEPTION AT NAPLES. 



The reception given Col. Roosevelt upon arrival at Naples was 

 probably the most cordial and elaborate ever given at that city. 

 Thousands had come from all parts of Europe to greet the ex- 

 President. Sojourners in Europe congregated at Naples by the 

 hundreds awaiting his arrival. The preparations for transferring 

 the baggage and hunting outfit of Col. Roosevelt had been arranged 

 by the United States Consul. Ambassador Griscom had come down 

 to Naples from Rome to do honor to our former chief executive of 

 this Nation. Journalists from London, Berlin, Paris and Rome 

 gathered at Naples to write their impressions of the distinguished 

 American. Many of them printed elaborate character sketches of 

 him. 



The steamer Admiral left Naples soon after midnight, and, 

 after so strenuous a day, the ex-President was not long in seeking 

 rest. Arising early that morning, Col. Roosevelt was soon out on 

 the deck armed with a pair of marine glasses. The air was balmy 

 and the sunshine brilliant. After the buffeting they had received 

 on the voyage from Gibraltar to Naples the trip through the Strait 

 of Messina and down the coast was like sailing on a lake. 



