2 
THE ROOSEVELT HUNT . 
reason for his determination to experience the most electric thrills known to 
hunters; by pitting his keenness, ingenuity and stamina against the same traits 
characteristic of the lords of the brute creation. Roosevelt as a huntsman was 
universally known and greatly admired among the true sportsmen of the 
world, and whenever one of this class came to the United States he seldom 
failed to have an interview with the President, and whatever the pressure of 
the affairs of state Roosevelt snatched time to interview the hunter of big 
beasts. Among these was Richard Tjader, whose exciting tales of his elephant 
killings, lion trackings and ridings, buffalo hunts and other adventures in 
British East Africa, are said to have caused Roosevelt’s final decision, so 
that his trip was practically determined about two years before the expiration 
of his presidential service. 
HIS VOYAGE TO MOMBASA. 
On March 23, 1909, two< weeks after President Taft had been inaugurated 
as his successor, Mr. Roosevelt left New York on the steamship “Hamburg” 
for a fifteen months’ recreation trip, including a hunt in the protectorate 
of British East Africa, a voyage in the waters of the great Victoria Nyanza 
lake and a journey down the valley of the Nile. He was to be the head of 
an expedition in active charge of R, j. Cunninghame, of Nairobi, the head¬ 
quarters of the Uganda Railroad. Not only is Mr. Cunninghame one of the 
most expert of African sportsmen, but the party was also to include F. C. 
Selous, the famous hunter and author. Mr. Roosevelt's son, Kermit, who 
accompanied him from the first, was to be official photographer of the expedi¬ 
tion. On March 30th the "Hamburg” arrived at St. Michaels, the Azores, 
where the Roosevelts were received by the American Consul and given God¬ 
speed toward Gibraltar. The steamship made the British stronghold April 
2nd, and after Mr. Roosevelt and hi§ son had been entertained by the com¬ 
mandant the voyage was continued to Naples. There the ex-President was 
greeted with all the honors due to his distinguished character, and in its 
glorious harbor he found awaiting him, gaily decked with flags and crowded 
with welcoming crew, passengers and visitors, the steamship "Admiral.” The 
latter was to bear the party to Mombasa, the port of entry and capital of 
British East Africa, and the beginning of the great Uganda railroad, or back¬ 
bone of the Big Game Blunting Grounds. It was at Naples that Mr. Selous 
joined the party and for nearly two weeks thereafter, or until the boat landed 
at Mombasa, the ex-President’s appetite for action was whetted daily by the 
dsi 
