ROOSEVELT'S DEPARTURE FOR AFRICA. 21 



The whole morning was spent on deck, and Col. Roosevelt had 

 a good opportunity to learn much from those of the party who had 

 been through the thrilling experience of the earthquake concerning 

 the tragic details of that disaster. He was particularly interested in 

 the stories told by Signor Trincheri, the prefect of Messina, who, 

 under orders from Premier Giolitti, was to accompany Col. Roose- 

 velt on his inspection of the city. The prefect was wounded in the 

 wreck of his own home. 



About 1 1 o'clock the Admiral passed close to the Lipari Islands, 

 the volcano Stromboli, which the ancients regarded as the seat of 

 ^olus, the god of the winds, standing up hugely against the blue 

 sky. From the cone of the volcano, more than 3,000 feet high, a 

 column of smoke rose majestically and was swept far away in fleecy 

 clouds. The village of Stromboli, all white like a Moorish town, 

 lay low down by the sea. 



VISITS WRECK OF CITY. 



All that was left of the population of Messina gathered near 

 the landing place to witness the arrival of the distinguished party. 

 As the Admiral approached the shore the ex-President made exactly 

 the same remark as hundreds of others who have visited the ruins 

 and observed them from afar, "There is more standing than I ex- 

 pected." 



The Admiral arrived at Messina about 2 o'clock in the after- 

 noon and was saluted by the Re Umberto, with the king on board. 

 Almost immediately Captain Pfeister, the former Italian military 

 attache at Washington and now aid to Admiral Mirabello, was taken 

 to the Admiral in a launch and inquired for Col. Roosevelt. To him 

 he said the king sent his compliments and would have great pleasure 

 in receiving the former President of the United States. Col. Roose- 

 velt's face lit up with a pleasant smile, and, accompanied by his son, 

 Kermit, and Ambassador Griscom, he proceeded at once to the 

 battleship. 



The king met the party at the head of the gangway and greeted 

 the ex-President effusively, shaking him warmly by the hand. He 

 did not wish, he said, to allow the opportunity to pass of making the 



