Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-02-09
ALL EFFORTS TO
FREE HARD|NG'S
BOAT FRU|TLESS
PreSident-EleCt Decides to
Abandon the Victoria and
Proceed to St. Augustine
BY Train Today.
tBy The Associated Press.)


Daytona, Fla, Feb S.-After a
days outing in Sea Breeze, and
Daytona, President-elect Harding
returned to his stranded houseboat
Victoria in Mosquito lagoon to-
night to pack his baggage and to
bid farewell to the ship.
All efforts to pull the Victoria
out of the mud failed today and
Mr. Harding decided not to want
longer for her to resume her
cruise. He expects to come ashore
tomorrow and go to St, Augustine
by train.
The president-elect's return to
the houseboat involved many diff
culties, the party threading a mar
row jungle trail and picking a pre-
carious way along a rickety pier to
board the launch that took them
out to the Victoria, The trip fur
nished a familiar companion piece
to Mr.. Harding's experience last
November when he attempted to
leave Point Isabel Texas, after
similar bad luck had broken up
his vacation.
Safe landing Place Found.
When MI, Harding came ashore
yesterday his party searched the
river banks for twenty miles before
they found a safe landing. Today
a secret service man went scouting
and discovered decaying pier
iuting out from n forest Of palmet-
toes almost opposite the point
where the Victoria lies. II was
there that the president-elect put
out tonight to board the house
boat.
The explorations Of the secret
service man lasted until afternoon
his experiences including an en-
counter with negroes who refused
at first to lend him their row boat
because one had caught a glimpse
of a pistol beneath his belt, 1t was
whispered that he was revenue
agent, but he finally convinced the
owner of tho boat to the contrary.
Meantime, in Sea Breeze, the
eager hosts who always gather
around a celebrity, had taken
charge of Mr.. Harding's entertain
ment. From the golf links they
gathered him in for a luncheon
party and then they undertook to
pilot him down the river bank UNI
til they established liaison with the
secret service expedition.
Auto Wheels Mircd.
Distributing the party in autos,
they started southwark along the
Dixie highway. At New Smyrna, |
4 - lyp inv
about the Victoria, parking their
cars for fifteen minutes in a clus- |
ter that blocked the street and
aroused the ire of tourists, truck |
drivers and pedestrians, South of
New Smyrna the encourage met
stop when it met a secret |
service car that had come up from /
lagoon topilot them. To-
ward the end of the drive the road !
became only a trail in which palm |
and palmetto leaves scratched the |
varnish from the automobiles and |
the wheels mired to theaXles.
Harding Takes the Lead.
When further progress by motor |
was impossible, the party walked |
500 yards and were at the pier in |
full view of the Victoria as she lay |
two miles off shore. The tug Osce-
ola, sent from Daytona to release |
the houseboat, law idle side her,
all thought Of pulling her off before
high tide tomorrow having been
abandoned. The next problem Of |
the party was to attract attention,
for lcaky roWboat was the only
available. Mr.. Hard
ing took the lead treading far out
on the abandoned pier on timberS
hat creaked threateningly. He
waved a white handkerchief and
shouted. Other members of the
party Joined in the noise and a
secret service. man fired a salvO
With his pictoI.
Only Mud Hens Answer.
A flock of mud hens answered
but the decks of the
remained as peaceful as
he styx After a half hours futile
affort, the party despatched Sc
ret service man in the antiquated
rowboat that eventually brought
'esults and at nightfal' the little
aunch chugged out to the rescue.
Mr. Harding and several others
vent to the Victoria intending to
jring some baggage ashore and
spend the night N Daytona. but
hey reversed their plans and when
hey came back it was to say good
rye to their companions.
END of Perfect Day"
Most of the party had grouped
themselves on the steps of a long
deserted cottage near the pier. Mr.
Iarding picked a deliberate way
long the shaking pier in the
gloom. Although his
ooting gave way once or twice, he
the trip in safety and
ust as Mosquito lagoon began to
demonstrate unmistakingly why 1t
vas so named, the party disbanded.
the strains of "The End of
. Perfect Day" and Good Night,
adde's" floating out across the
of |