The Washington times., 1921-02-09
HARDING QUITS.
sH|PFOR WORK.
Bids Farewell to Yacht and
Faces Thousand Cares In
:. Store at st. Augustine.
BY JACK ROYLE.
International News Service.


dent-elect Harding has spent his last
night on the yacht Victoria. He left
the little vessel, on which he has
spept happy and carefree vacation
of sver two weeks, early today to re-
tnrn to the multitndinous duties
which await him at st. Augustine.
The Harding party travelled by
launch from the stranded yacht to
Oakdale, planning to take train
for st. Augustine if possible and 9TH
erwise to cover the hundred and ten
lxmile trip by motor.
PICTURE OF HEALTH.
They probably will arrive at their
Journeys and late this afternoon, Mr..
Harding returns 10 his work fresh
sned in mind and body, and the pic
Ifure OF health and energy. His con-
l1erences are expected to begin at
lonce and he planned to dispose OF a
lmountain OF correspondence before
might.
The return TO the Victoria last
might ended a day strenuous both for
the Presdent-elect and for the secret
iservice men who accompany him.
Walter Ferguson. one of the secret
lservice men. was dispatched with n
lmessage from the Victoria early in
1.-THE day. While he was negotiating
tfor a launch at little village near
Mosquito Lagoon, a chance movement
disclosed his revolver, He carries a
weapon" one local citizen whisper
,ed. "He must be a revenuer."
After IS holes of golf the Presi-
dent elect went to luncheon with
Fred Todd. q friend from Ohio. Guests
lat the luncheon pressed their cars
Into service upon the party and in
lsisted on motoring thsm back to iheir
Vessel. So many motors were offer
led that the road frequently was block
ed during the trip.
When the shore opposite the Vic
ltoria was reached 1t was impossible
Ito attract the attention of Senator
iFrelinghuysen and George Christian,
who were on board. Harding waved
his hat and handkerchief for several
minutes while some of the Daytona
party supplemented his efforts by
every means within their power in
lcluding clapping their hands and
Swhistling across two miles of water
and stamping their feet. Finally
}secret service man again was pressed
into service. A .lealxy rowboat was
lrequisioned and reached the yacht
latter q strenuous battle with wind and
'tide.
RsCAPEs AN UPSET.
Harding narrowly escaped disaster
iNs-ren q plank on the rickety dock
broke as he boarded the launch sent
for him. He jumped nimbly to safety.
The party from Daytona gathered on
shore for prolonged goodbyes and al
.the launch pulled into the lagoon
iPresident-elect Harding led the
ichorus Of Goodnight. Ladies'"
Mortimer d. Fuller, a salt manu-
I1acturer. Of Scranton, Pa, who was
one Of the two who supplied autos,
.evidently was unfamiliar with the re-
strictions which travel with q Presi-
dent-elect entails, for he objected
lstrenously to the presence Of the
Secret Service men near his car.
what are you doing here" he de-
tnanded OF the Secret Service man
near his car.
The Secret Service man explained
chat his dnties made 1t necessary for
him to be there when a stop was
made.
.'weIl. why do you look at me like
xhatr' insisted Fuller. I'm no Boil
shevik.~ II look at all of them like
that so no one will feel slighted,"
answered the President-elect's body
guard and Fuller followed him
around the remainder of the after
ynoon to see IL he meant II. He did.
Senator Edge, of New Jersey. was
pfIoted wrongly and lost the party
for a time but arrived at the lagoon
in time to meet the yacht tender and
go aboard. After a cottager equipped
with palm branches had entertained
his party with a vigorous Jungle
dance they gathered up their straw
hats, hampers and autos and left the
lagoon to the wild geese which had
occupied points OF vantage along the
shore during the performance.