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: 
'T 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. 
