The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-28
PARTY NARROWED
ON FLORIDA SANDS
JOHN A. O'BRIEN TELLS WHY HE
MISSED CUBA. .,-
Ten Thousand Tourists in a Mad Chase
for Passage on "Dinky Boats''-
neapolis, Comes Ashore from a
Wrecked Vessel in Galveston Bay.

John A. O'Brien, city passenger and
ticket agent Of the Omaha road, was
reminded Of the experiences of Moses
last week as he watch he'd 10000 dis
appointed tourists on the east shores of
Florida, gazing with strained eyes over
into the promised land which they
should never reach.
Mr.: O'Brien admits that only two
or MS party reached Havana. He
speaks Of it softly. The two are said
to have submitted to improvised hunks
under the table of the steamers main
dining saloon to reach Cuba.
1t is well known that the Omaha
agent has never met railroad trans
portation problem beyond his fathom-
ing, but to water transportation he
bows in humble defeat. How to get
10000 eager tourists across the water
to Havana on what he styles "compara-
lively dinky boats' was beyond his
ken, and, with his party, he withdrew
gracefully.
. Altho the o'Brien party reached
Florida Feb. 6, the first boat did not
appear until Feb. 20. Its capacity was
about 200 passengers, and nearly 300
got aboard. Florida is practically
swamped with tourists this year, and all
OF them seemed. bound for Cuba. The
general passenger agent Of the PENN
sular & Oriental line said he believed
sold ticket to Havana this year. Key
West had been advertised as a new
port for Havana boats. This switched
a lot of travel from New Orleans to
lower Atlantic ports. The Mobile boat
was out of commission a month, and the
Miami steamer had capacity limit
which would not stand for load of
10000, or even much less
Tourists, including lot of Mime
apolls people, were running hare-and-
hound chase back and forth from Miami
to New Orleans, with possible steamer
berth as the prize. At Miami they would
find the sailing steamer full. Reports
from New Orleans of a steamer for
Cuba would result in a fruitless chase
to that city. The boat was sold out,
and back again they would chase to
Miami or to Key West to meet dis
lions were no better.
The worst Florida weather in twenty
years increased the desire of the tour
lists to reach the sunny. shores Of Cuba;
boat to Key West, with the chance Of
getting berth on the Havana steamer.
The persistent ones got aboard anyway
and slept on coils Of rope or most any
where to get to Cuba.
Palm Beach and Miami are the places
where one gets sunshine. Mr.. O'Brien
was charmed with both places. Frost
reached as far south as Ormond and
Daytona,. but the sunshine was warm
at Miami and Palm Beach.
At Galveston Mr.. O 'Brien met ship.
wrecked sailor whom he identified, be.
meath the incrustations of dried salt
water and the mahogany skin finish
from exposure to sea air, as John Cal.
derwood, former auditor of the street
railway company. Mr.. O'Brien saws
that, altho the one-time Minneapolitan
is now general manager of big Brook.
Ign rapid transit line, he is the same
genial John Calderwood that was once
city controller of Minneapolis. He had
shlpped on a New York steamer for the
water trip around Key West, and was
shipwrecked in Galveston bay. After
three days the passengers were rescued