The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

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WESTWARD HO:
feet in the air. He had hardly regained his footing when the
President duplicated the performance. While no accidents
occurred, the President had a number of narrow escapes.
One day, in company with Major Pitcher, he was firing a new
revolver at a tree. The weapon was defective and the empty
shell f^ew back and struck the President on the cheek, draw-
ing the blood. If it had struck a little higher up it would have
injured, if not blinded, one eye.
The longest walk enjoyed by the President was taken on
Easter Sunday. He started out alone in the morning, declin-
ing the offer of other members of the party to accompany
him. He spent the day in climbing mountains and walking
along the trail, covering twenty miles. On April 24th, he laid
the corner stone of the new gate at the northern entrance to
Yellowstone Park. At the conclusion of the ceremonies President
Roosevelt started at once for his trip to the coast. On
April 25th, he traveled in three States, and made a number of
addresses, both from the rear platform of his car and from
stands erected for the purpose.
A COWBOY SHOW
The most unique demonstration of the day, and the one
that undoubtedly pleased the President most, was the cowboy
show at Edgemont. The demonstration was arranged by the
Society of Black Hill Pioneers, and consisted of exhibitions of
cowboy riding. Special trains brought in a large crowd from
the surrounding country, and they were all at the station, with
three bands of music, to greet the President.
As a train pulled in, the cowboys let out a yell, the bands
played and the salute was fired. The exhibition stand was
but a short distance from the depot, and after the President
had made an address, the boys began riding the bucking