ROOSEVELT'S DEPARTURE FOR AFRICA. 23 



Col. Roosevelt and his party penetrated into the interior of the 

 town, now a desert waste, practically composed of a gigantic rubbish 

 heap, from twenty to thirty feet in height. Great blocks of stone 

 and ancient columns lay scattered among the rubbish, where danger- 

 ous walls had been pulled down. The line of streets was preserved 

 only by tracks worn by the civilian survivors, the soldiers and the 

 police. 



Considerable trouble was experienced in making their way 

 through the city. Rain, which soon began to fall, added greatly to 

 the difficulties of the journey, as the mud was very deep. 



The ex-President's departure from the city to go aboard his 

 steamer was marked with scenes that moved him to emotion. Al- 

 though it was raining heavily by this time, the people gathered in 

 crowds. The women kissed their hands to him, the children threw 

 flowers in his path and the men cheered wildly. It was a spon- 

 taneous greeting to one who had been their friend. Turning to one 

 of the members of his party. Col. Roosevelt said : 



"I am glad and proud as an American citizen that my country 

 could do something to help this immense disaster, for which even 

 all the assistance in the world would be insufficient." 



He then boarded the steamer Admiral, which just at sunset 

 hoisted her anchors and proceeded on her way to Mombasa, Africa. 



