We just posted an item for 1909 on Theodore Roosevelt leaving the US for his legendary 1909, 1910 safari. Famously, after losing his effort to regain the Presidency in the three-way race in 1912, he embarked on the exploration of what was then known as the River of Doubt, or more officially the Roosevelt–Rondon Scientific Expedition
That trip was plagued by horrific events, one of which was detailed in this edition of the Cheyenne based Wyoming Tribune.
It's often noted that Roosevelt never recovered from this trip, but that can be somewhat debated. It's true he was never himself thereafter, but Roosevelt had been a vigorous proponent of "the Strenuous Life" and had lived it. While this is fully admirable, and today would be cited to some degree as a life extending practice, Roosevelt had experienced ill health with asthma in his youth (as have I), and had been shot during the 1912 campaign. Four years of semi enforced idleness as Vice President and President had taken their toll as well, and by the time he left office in 1909 he was, in my view, beginning to significantly age even though he was not yet 60.
Having said that, he made a really dedicated effort to join the Army as head of an expeditionary unit during World War One, so he had plenty of vigor left, even after these ordeals.
It's also noteworthy how, just before World War One, there was plenty of exploration of the remote regions of the globe still going on. The era immediately before the war seems to have been the last great push in the age of exploration.
Last prior edition:
March 21, 1914. Yo acuso
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