Evening star., 1928-12-31
PRESIDENT FAILS
/. TO SHOOT TURKEYS
Coolidge Returns From Hunt
ing Trip Today With
Empty Bag.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

Staff Correspondent of The Star.
SEA ISLAND HUNTING LODGE,
Ga. December 31-President Coolidge
today returned with an empty bag from
another hunting expedition and he was
tired and hungry and none too gleeful.
He with several other members of his
party. started before sunrise this
morning for wild turkeys in the wilds
of the 60,000-acre game preserve of
Howard E. Coffin, his host during his
vacation in the Sea Islands.
He had had several chances to bag
turkey during the three hours he was
out, but these birds were too elusive or
else his aim was poor, because none fell.
Mrs. Coolidge was out In front of the
game lodge with others of the party to
greet him and his companions on their
return. 1t was not necessary to ask
what luck" the Presidents face told
the sad story.
He shortened his narrative of the
fiasco by asking about breakfast. He
had gone off with only two cups of cof-
fee and his long tramp had stirred up
real appetite. Despite the early hour
of his departure for the hunt, Mrs.
Coolidge was up to give him a CHEEKY
send off. They entered the cabin, where
the breakfast was being served to those
who were to accompany the President.
Mrs. Coolidge sat at the long, rough,
wooden table with its tin cups and
dishes, but the President preferred to
drink his coffee standing declining
offers of anything else like fiapjacks,
mullins and ham and eggs. But on
his return from the hunt it was a diff
ferent story. He did justice. to most
generous meal.
No plans have been made for OBJ
serving the ushering III of the EssW
year at the Coffin home tonight. The
President has indicated that he would
probably follow his custom of retiring
at an early hour, regardless of the
occasion.
Trip Made on Yacht.
The journey to the preserve, which
Is located about 40 miles south of
Sapelo Island, was made yesterday
afternoon aboard Mr.. Coffin's yacht
'zapa La" Aboard this boat besides
the President and Mrs. Coolidge. were
their hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Coffin, and
two secret service men. The presidential
aides and physician and other members
of the party were aboard the Engineer
Corps yacht "Isondega."
It was dark when the party arrived
at its destination, considerable time
having been lost by stopping en- route
at st. Marys, Ga, where the remains
Of an old Spanish mission was visited,
and at the Sea Island plantation of
Charles S. Bennett, retiring head of the
Farmers Union at Point Peter, Ga.
Before retiring last night the presi-
dental party enjoyed an oyster and pop
corn roast on the shore in front of the
game lodge. The President opened his
own oysters and gave evidence of being
an old hand at the art. The night was
an ideal one. The air was balmy, but
void of any chill The moon Shone
brightly-so brightly, in fact, that Mrs.
Coolidge remarked that she had never
seen its equal befores During this shore
party a quartet from the Georgia
State Colored Methodist School sang a
number of negro spirituals and some Of
the more modern songs.
Early Start Made.
After refreshing nights sleep aboard
the zapala, the President, attired in
his novel hunting outfit, was on his way
before 5 o'clock for that section of the
preserve where the turkeys are known
to be so abundant. Guides and col
ored attendants were out until late
hour last night locating the turkey
roosts and 1t was to these spots that the
party headed with their guns to take
their stands this morning. "Old Nose"
who was born In slavery, and who is
conceded to be the best turkey caller in
this part of the country, walked ahead
of the party and as the neighborhood of
the located roosts was reached he en-
tered upon his ingenious method of
initiating the call of the turkey.
For dinner last night the presidential
party aboard the Zapala enjoyed the
gobbler turkey shot by the President
last Friday on Little Sapelo Island. To
add to the interest of this turkey meal
it was barbecued on shore in true sea
island style, instead of being roasted.
This was the Presidents and Mrs
Coolidges first experience eating a fowl
cooked in this fashion, and both were
represented as being delighted. Several
pheasants shot by the President were
brought along and will be served prob
ably for the midday meal today. The
little doe killed by Col Osmun Latrobe,
the Presidents military aide. during the
presidential deer hunt last Saturday,
was not included in the food stores.
Venison meat was served to the Presi-
dent night or so after his arrival at
the Coffin's sea island home, and he
made no secret of not caring for that
kind of meat. 1t Is not likely to be
served again during his stay.
Hunting in Isolated Section.
The newspaper correspondents who
have been covering" this vacation of
Mr.. Coolidge were asked not to ac-
company him on this expedition to the
game preserve. The news thus far has
been relayed back to them by members
Of the secret service and employees of
Mr.. Coffin. Because of this unusual
condition, and the fact that the Presi-
dent is in an exceedingly remote and
SparSely-Settled section of the South
Georgia coast country, Mr.. Coolidge
last night and this morning was more
isolated from the world than at any
time since he has been Chief Executive. |
Despite the fact that he is still within !
the confines of the United States, he is |
in section that is very difficult to |
reach at night by water. Moreover, |
there is no telephone within 10 miles |
of the President and the Coffin yacht |
has no radio equipment.
Older members of the secret service |
and newspaper correspondents did not |
recall any President in recent years, |
not excepting Col. Roosevelt, being so |
completely cut off from the outside as |
has been Mr.. Coolidge in this trip |
However, 1t was his own wish and the |
newspaper correspondents had to agree, |
but with the assurance that the Presi- |
dents movements would be relayed to |
them at their headquarters on ST. |
Simon Island about 80 miles away.
After the hunt. according to the ar
rangements for the day, the party will |
stop at ST. Simons Island on its re- |
turn journey long enough to permit Mr. |
Coolidge to officiate at the dedication |
of an oak tree in front of the Sea Island |
Cloister Hotel. which young tree is said |
to have sprung from the oaks in the |
woodland on ST. Simons from which |
timber was cut for use in the building |