FROM NEW YORK TO MOMBASA 
81 
companions. Here also he made a brief speech, ending humorously 
with the words: 
“Everybody has been very kind to me, but I think it must be an 
infernal nuisance to have a retired President on board.” 
Three days later, on April 5, the harbor of Naples was entered, 
the “Hamburg” reaching her voyage end at that great and famous 
metropolis of Southern Italy. Roosevelt’s stay here was to be short, but 
it was one of continuous ovation. As the great steamer entered the 
harbor it was greeted by a deafening peal of steam whistles, the music 
of many bands, and a splendid show of bunting from the vessels of 
all types and nations that occupied the ample bay. There was present 
an Italian warship and a multitude of other craft, all gay with flags 
and bunting from stem to stern. 
On land the welcome was as enthusiastic. Had our plain Ameri¬ 
can tourist been a conquering king returning from a glorious cam¬ 
paign, he could not have been received more heartily by the vast crowd 
assembled to gaze on the late head of the American republic. Floral 
offerings were superabundant, among them a great group of red, white 
and black carnations from Emperor William and a splendid garland 
of fragrant blooms from the Empress. A letter from the Emperor 
accompanied the gift, cordially inviting him to stop at Berlin on his 
return and ending with “Hail to the successful huntsman!” 
On landing, the Hotel Excelsior was sought, where the traveler 
met various Italian officials and was greeted by scores of prominent 
Americans. He subsequently had an interview with the Duke and 
Duchess of Aosta in their splendid palace at Capodimente, affairs of 
state preventing the King of Italy from meeting him during his brief 
stay. 
From Naples the traveler proceeded to Messina, the scene of the 
recent devastating earthquake. His observations here were condensed 
in a telegraph cable message in which he warmly praised the splendid 
work done at Messina and Reggio with the building lumber shipped 
from this country. Visiting the American camp, he found two hun¬ 
dred and fifty houses already completed and arrangements made for 
the rapid construction of one thousand two hundred and fifty more. 
The work was under the general direction of Ambassador Griscom 
