WHACKED THE PRESIDENT WITH A SINGLE STICK
Gen. Wood Raised a Lump on Mr. Roosevelt’s Forehead
Special to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29–President Roosevelt has not been wounded in the forehead with a rapier wielded by Gen. Wood, nor has he been swinging a broad sword at that officer, as reported in New York today; but he has been whacking his military friend over the head with a single-stick, and Gen. Wood has been returning the compliment. As a result the President is wearing a bruise on his forehead just over the left eye.
For the last month the President and Gen. Wood have been accustomed to repair daily, or almost daily, to a room in the White House where they are free from interruption and have a bout at single-stick. This ancient English exercise used to have as its point the drawing of blood. Neither the ex-Colonel nor the ex-Lieutenant Colonel of the Rough Riders has aimed a making this point, but both havve confined themselves to developing their skill with the weapon and getting as much exercise and fun out of the game as possible.
Notwithstanding this, it is impossible to play with single-sticks without occasionally getting hurt, and both the President and his ex-superior officer have daily given and received some pretty severe raps. Lumps have appeared at frequent intervals on the head of each. The one which the President received the other day, however, was worse than usual and more visible to the casual observer. As a result the wildest kind of rumors were started, finally culminating in the broadsword and rapier story. This led to the discovery of the secret which the President and his friend have guarded so successfully for a month or more.
The PT must of worked since, ten years later, not letting an assassination attempt get in the way, Roosevelt was able to deliver a 90 minute speech after being shot in the chest.