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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1903)
When Roosevelt Visited Omaha N THE EVENING of October 4. 1900, verr distinguished and a very tired roan stepped from a o special train at the Webster street station Into tho bands of a committee of Omaha political leaders, beaded by Mayor Moores, Howard Bald rldg. Edward Rosewater, John C. Cowln, C. J. Greene, David II. Mercer, J. C. Wbarton and W. 8. Summers. The tired man was not allowed to rest. It was the first time he had ever been in Omaha, and be looked sooty and grimy and fatigued despite a tall hat and his black Prince Albert coat. Some 40,000 persons had been Intent upon bis coming for hours, however, and for tho goo'd of the republican party tho tired talker proceeded for five hours to ex emplify what he meant when he said "strenuous life." Omahans have not for gotten their taste of it. Moro than 10.000 persons gathered In four different places beard sharp, ringing words fall from tho lips of the man who wanted McKlnley elected again and was willing to cease being governor of New York state to fight for an election as vice president and help to keep tho republican president in office. Three times as many caught a view of his features as he passed through the streets. That was President Theodore Roosevelt's first visit to Omaha. He reached Omaha about 8 o'clock In the evening from tho west after a four days' campaign tour of Nebraska, and he left town about midnight via the Illinois Central, enroute through Iowa. During those four hours Omaha was a blaze of glory and a blare of sound. The Ak-Sar-Den Illuminations glowed again after a week's darkness, and the city and thou sands of visitors flocked down town to view Roosevelt. Enthusiasm as he passed through the streets reached a point prop erly termed grand, and the spell of Intense nervous excitement produced by the ex pectant assembling of thousands in the city by night bung tense and splendid every moment of the time Governor Roosevelt pent In Omaha. Everywhere there was energy, effort, noise, excitement, light and voices. It was one of those times In the midst cf a national political campaign when people 1ITH tbe coming of President W Roosevelt to Omaha on Monday the people of Omaha enter on to Ifffi&j tna nftn era of presidential en J tertalnment, for already four of the presidents of the United States have entered the gates of the city while holding the executive office, and four times has the city, through its officers and people wel comed and cheered the president. Yet the3e visits reach over a period of twenty-eight years and the president's being in Omaba is, as it always will be, an event. The first of the presidents to come to Omaha was President Ulysses S. Grant, and that was 'way back in 1875. It was the morning of October 1 when the presidential train arrived In Council Bluffs and was met by a party of Omaha officials and men prominent in Omaha. The presidential party, which Included, besides the presi dent and his wife. Colonel Fred D. Grant and bis wife. ex-Secretary of the Navy A. Boree and bis wife and son, Secretary of War W. W. Belknap, General Babcock, General Alvord, General McFeely, General Vincent, General William Myers, General M. J. Myers, Colonel Benjamin and Colonel Crosby, were brought from the Council Bluffs transfer to Omaha on a special train, which was decorated with bunting. As tho train pulled into the station in Omaha the artillery from the barracks fired the presi dential salute and the Twenty-third In fantry band struck up with a national air. Amid the shouts and cheers of a great concourse of people, that bad come from all of eastern Nebraska, tbe president was escorted from tbe train to tbe carriage in ' waiting for him. The others of the party ' followed and took their places in the car riages and were drives slowly up Tenth j r& i n. peopw nave hbohu fW I president for at least twenty j rai o , jurat, ma i icuiu wl having elapsed since be came out west and aettled down to the life 01 a ranchman in the wildest part of tbe northwest, the Little Missouri country. Many tales of bis eareer In the "bad lands." as that picturesque region is called in the west, have been told, and Mr. Roosevelt himself baa mads familiar some of bis ex peritnees in his books. His "Ranch Life in tbe West," one of the best known works on the topic, is especially interesting for tbe reason that it deals with the topic first band and not from hearsay, being the result of bis actual experience on a ranch and with the men to be met there. A great many atortes bsrve been published concern ing tbe experience of tho president on bis trips to the mountain of the west in search ot big game, but the majority of these are apocryphal. Some are founded on fact, though, and one of the best Is the account of how be killed bis first mountain ahcep. It Is thus related by FreJ Herrlg, who was a member of Troop K of tee D Rough Riders, and who was also an em forgot hey are Omabans or Nebraskans or westerners and feel most Intensely all American, as though the right too trod on 'Frisco ere the left heel bad departed from the boundaries of Manhattan. If President Roosevelt remembers Omaha other than a typical, high-colored picture of an American city at the acme of a national campaign, be Is more than a won derful man. The four black horses that conveyed him from ball to ball where be poke were driven over the asphalt at top speed, and the mounted escort could hardly keep tbe pace. There was time for mirth and laughter and cheers and speeches, but none for rest or a view of the city under the sun and as It lives from day to day. That night waa a conglomeration of sound, people and noise, and If the Rough Rider governor discovered more he used his ob servatory powers most excellently, despite the myriad Inrandescents and the red Are. As be was being whirled from Bohemian ball on South Thirteenth street to Boyd's opera house, where he made the last speech, he did have time to say a few things about Omaha and her people. Sub stantially It was that he was tired, but happy happy because be had found In the state and Its metropolis an enthusiasm for the republican ticket and himself as a nominee that he had not anticipated. Mr. Bryan, it will be remembered, was for the second time the democracy's choice for the presidency. Nebraska Is Mr. Bryan's state, at least by right of residency, and Gov ernor Roosevelt, bearing good reports, bad doubted them somewhat. Speaking, further to those about him In the carriage Governor Roosevelt said he thought the arrangements for the meet ings and tpeechmaktng In Omaha most ad mirable. The imposing Illuminations pleased him and he marveled at the warmth of his welcome. He was delighted with the fervent Omaha he saw and expressed the hope that be would visit tbe city again and see more of it. Then the carriage stopped before the stage entrance to the theater and they hustled blm on the stage, where be wad perfectly ready "to puncture tbe bubbles of imperialism and militarism" before 2.000 people, at the beck and call of Mr. John I Kennedy, who presided. How Other Presidents street until Farnam street was reached. When the carriages turned west. When the Grand Central hotel, now the Paxton, was reached the party stopped and Mayor Cham pion S. Chase announced from President Grant's carriage the order of tin day. The party then proceeded to the high school grounds, where President Grant was greeted by the school children and spoke a few words to them, after which be took bis way to the government building and for an hour held a reception. The remainder of his party, during the reception, drove out to the barracks. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the entire party took the train again and started on their way to Salt Lake City amid the cheers of thousands of people. Four years and one month later to a day President Grant and his wife arrived in Omaha on their return from their trip around the world. It was nearly three years since be had sat In the presidential chair, bat at every turn the people thronged and showed their enthusiasm by constant cheering. He was driven to the high school grounds and again spoke hortly to the children and the concourse of people that had gathered there. He was banqueted at the Wlthnell house and, on Sunday morn ing, attended the services . at the First Methodist church, where Rev. J. B. Maxfleld occupied the pulpit. Monday morning he started for the east and a committee in cluding Mayor Chase, 8enator Saunders, General Mandcrson, T. L. Kimball. M. R. Risdon, E. Rosewater, J. C. Bonnell and L. M. Bennett accompanied blm to tho Union Pacific transfer In Council Bluffs. During this stay of President Grant's In Omaha the entire police force, fourteen in number, were out in new uniforms and the hook and ladder company No. 1 Joined in the parade given for his benefit. Roosevelt, Burroughs ploye ot the Roosevelt ranch in North Dakota: "I saw tha colonel get a line sheep one day. He and BUI and I were sitting on the porch, taking it easy, when BUI tays: 'I saw a sheep's track up on that butte yesterday,' pointing to tbe range right in front of us, across the valley. A Rocky mountain sheep Is about the rarest game we get out there. Bill bad no more than got tbe words out of bis mouth when something poked Its bead up over the edge of the cliff. There's tbe sheep now,' says Roosevelt. 'No. I believe it's a black tailed antelope and I've a mind to go after him.' " 'Black tailed nothing.' said BUI. That's tbe whitest tailed antelope you ever saw.' "By this time tbe colonel was creeping up the river, with bis rifle. We two sat still and watched bim. The air was calm and clear as a bell, and when he was a half mill oft wc could bear every word we said. 'Ho ought to keep to tbe left and climb that coulee,' said Bill, never thinking the colonel would bear blm. But be did keep to the left and began crawling up tbe butte, which was all flutted with gullies. 'Glmmo them It was 11 o'clock when that meeting was finished and the governor and Senator Dolliver were driven to the Webster street station, where the private car awaited them. Obeying instructions, the trainmen waited until the governor bad time to compose himself for sleep, and very likely to alcep, before the signal was given to proceed. Just at midnight the train was pulled softly and gently out of the station, every employe on it having been personally Informed by the superintendent that If there was a Jar or hitch the official would not bo re sponsible for what might happen to the man to blame. It waa recognised most strictly that the next vice president could rest only on the wing. Some of the facts of tbe Roosevelt lan visit are that 6.000 men carrying torches and banners marched In the procession that did honor to tbe hero, conveying blm from the station to Farnam street, via Sixteenth; on Farnam to Nineteenth, back again to Fifteenth: and thenre to tbe big tent on Capitol avenue, where (.000 persona heard the principal address. At Crelghton hall 1.000 were addressed, the same number at Bohemian hall and J, 000 at Boyd's. It waa estimated that at least 30,000 others viewed the procession snd saw tbe distinguished guest. Frequently during the march crowds would break through the guards around the carriage and insist upon stopping it until a few dozen could shake bis hand. At the Webster street station the Inevitable Rough Rider episode was performed, prob ably so that Omaha might not become famous as the only city where it did not happen. Tbe real Rough Rider In this case was Jesse D. Langdon of Troop K, whd reined a half-broken mnstang to a moment's quiet beside the carriage. The rest happened like this, according to the newspapers: "As the horse plunged beneath blm young Langdon Introduced himself to the colonel. Tbe tired look van ished . from the candidate's face and he beamed with real pleasure. He gripped the trooper's hand bard. " 'I am mighty glad to see you.' be said. 'Where did you get that nice horse?' The animal was making an amicable effort to deposit its rider on the depot roof. Have Been Received In 1887 President Cleveland and his June bride were in the city for barely an hour, arriving at 10:60 In the morning, and were driven about the city aa far west as Twenty second street and as far south as Brownell ball. Arrangements bad been made for blm to deliver a five-minute speech, but be asked to be excused from doing so. The train on which President Cleveland and his wife, Daniel Lamont, Colonel Bis sell and Postmaster General and Mrs. Vilas arrived was met at Council Bluffs by a party of Omaha citizens In a private car, which was coupled on to tbe presidential train and brought to Omaha with It. Tho party that met him Included Congressman J. A. McShane. Judge J. M. Woolworth, Senator Manderson, Dr. George L. Miller, O. W. Holdrege, W. A. Paxton, Goneral G. B. Dandy, Max Meyer, Hon. James E. Boyd and Hon. Charles H. Brown. When the train reached the center of the Missouri river bridge Congressman McShane deliv ered an address of welcome and was given the sobriquet of mayor at once and unwit tingly by the president. On the morning of May 13, 1S91, President Benjamin Harrison arrived In Omaba from Llneoln. He was accompanied by bis son, Russell Harrison and Mrs. Russell Harri son, his daughter, Mrs. McKee, Mrs. Dim mock, whom he afterwards married, and Secretaries Wanamaker and Rusk. Mayor Cushlng, Senator Manderson, Governor ' Thayer, ex-Governor Saunders and Hon. J. C. Cowln acted as an escort to the presi dent on bla entrance to tbe city. President Harrison spoke from a platform erected at the northeast corner of tbe courthouse grounds, addressing one of the largest throngs that ever assembled In Nebraska. Afterwards he tendered a public reception in tbe court of The Bee building, when and Yellowstone Park opery glasses, said Bill ho always called the colonel's field glasses opery and Just then the colonel fired. That waa enough for us. and BUI and I went after blm as bard as we could. " 'Did you get your anteloper called BUI. aa tbe colonel stuck bis bead op from be hind a boulder. 'It's a sheep,' yelled the colonel, push ing tbo critter up over the rock In front ot blm. 'It's a sheep, by George, and I shot blm through tbe heart.' "My last hunt with Colonel Roosevelt waa late In November. I guesa he and I remem ber It mainly because we both froze our ears getting borne to tbe ranch. He was anxious to kill a mountain ram before be went back east. It's all right to shoot Rocky Mountain aheep, but a whacking big ram with boras spread like all out doors Is different. So we both made up our minds he must have a ram, and started early in tbo morning over the divide between the Yellowstone and tbe Little Missouri rivers. "By that time of the year the bunch grsss was so brown you couldn't tell it from the rocks. The country looked about as desolate as you can imagine. The buttes " 'I just brought blm over from the stock yards this week,' responded the rough rider rather breathlessly. 'He bad never been ridden when I got him.' There was no time for more words and the Mexican bit drew the fractious steed Into line be- -bind the carriage." Before arriving la Omaha Mr. Roosevelt bad visited a lot of other western cities and states, just aa be baa done on bis present trip. He had been in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota. Mon tana, Idaho, Utah. Colorado and Kansas. In Nebraska he had spent four days pass ing through forty-four of the ninety coun ties and all six of the congressional dli trlcts, speaking to many thousands along the way. Since tho first Omaha visit the city has been disappointed in not receiving another t hut planned for last fall, which ended nt Indianapolis owing to tbe president's phy sical condition. Extensive arrangements were rondo for the visit In connection with tho Ak-Sar-Ben festivities and the an ticipated presence of the chief executive of the nation widely advertlned. He then promised to coroe in the spring to Omaha and oth r W4s:eru cities that be had missed, and he Is keeping gcod his word. As cn bis ft ret Inspection of Omaha President Roosevelt will find the city In the throes of a political battle. This time tbe contentions are narrowed to tbe bound aries of the city, but ths excitement runs almost as high, the occasion lacking only the lavish display that only national cam paign exchequers can supply. But the president himself will come re freshed and vigorous from a solitary and unmolested journey Into Yellows'ono park. He will reach the city while there is yet daylight, will ride through tho principal main streets and will be at his leisure to observe various features of the city, phy sical and otherwise. While there will be crowds and generous expression of delight at bis presence there will not be the thirty-second degree expression of It that he encountered before. In other words, be will have more choree to enjoy himself aa Is befitting the herd of the nation. many thousands of the people passed la line and shook bauds with tbe president. After the reception President Harrison vis ited The Bee offices and rested for a time in the editor's office. At S o'clock In the afternoon the president was driven to the high school grounds and gave a short ad dress to the children. The party were then driven to the homo of Alvln Saunders where they took lunch before returning to the train and taking their way to Kansas City. The three days and a half spent by Presi dent McKlnley In Omaha during tbe Trans rnlsslsslppl Exposition are so near yet that they are In the memory of all people. It was 9 o'clock In the evening of October 11, 1898, when the special train arrived In the city, bearing the president and his party, among whom were Secretaries Gags of Treasury, Bliss of Interior, Wilson of Agri culture, Postmaster General Smith, Lieu tenant General Nelson A. Miles and many other men of the nation's affairs. The night of the arrival of President Mc Klnley tbe electric parade of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben was repeated for bis benefit. Wednesday was president's day at the ex position and the grounds were thronged from morning to midnight with people. The president waa on the grounds from 11 o'clock in the morning until 9 o'clock at night. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon ha held a reception in the government building and at 6 o'clock a dinner was given la bla honor at the Market cafe on tbe grounds. Thursday morning following he took his de parture and returned but once afterward. That was on May 28, 1901, when he waa returning with Mrs. McKlnley from tho coast after htr serious illness there and tho ' president left the car only for a few min utes while it stood at tbe Union station. raised their Jagged edges against a cold gray sky and the only color in the landscape was la the ssadstone and porphyry strata of tbe cliffs. Ws bad a bard time of it waking our way up to tbe crest ot tbe divide, and Just aa we got there, along toward evening, I saw something moving ahead of us. " 'Easy now,' says I. 'and youll get your ram.' 'Where T says be. and I could see by bis voice he waa all on thorns. Wo had worked bard for this very chance. Ha had ' his 45-90 rille swinging easy over his left arm. I polated about 400 yards In front ot us a little down the ridge. It was one of the finest rams I ever raw. bis long brown hair so much lighter in color than an ewe's that he stood out tolerably plain, even among tbo bouIJers and at that distance. "I was Just pointing the critter out when be faeed about, lifted his big horns over a rock be'd been grazing behind and caught algbt of us against the sky line. There bo goes,' I yelled, for 'twas no use keeping quiet any longer. Maybe that ram didn't (Continued on Page Fourteen.)
