The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-27
GALE LASHES
CROWDED ship,
S0AKS THRONG
Wind, Rain and Lightning
Provide Thrills for PreSi-
dents Party.
HIGH SEAS POUND BOAT
Clothing Ruined, Executive
and First Lady JoStled
by Hundreds.
BY PAUL r. MALLON
United Press staff Correspondent


WASHINGTON, April PA
choppy overnight return voyage in
a small boat brought President
Hoover to the close this morning
Of an exciting weekend experience
with the elements up and down the
Potomac.
From the time ne left Washing
ton Saturday in a stiff breeze, the
chief executive found himself, his
party, and his 100-foot inspection
boat Of the commerce department
fighting wind rain, lightning, and
for the Potomac river-heavy
seas.
Half the time there was bright
warm sunshine, as on Sunday after
neon, when he disembarked from
the Sequoia to celebrate the 324th
anniversary of the landing Of the
cavaliers on the sand dune desert
of Cape Henry, Va, % miles from
Norfolk.
But the other half was worse
than had been considered possible
like the climax of the trip, when a
thunderstorm broke up the cele-
bration as a clergyman was recit-
ing the Lords Prayer.
Hoovers Given Thrills
Neither the President nor Mrs.
Hoover soon will forget that eX-
perience. 1t was possibly the most
thrilling moment and trying time
since they have been in the White
House.
Eighteen hours they had jour
neyed down the Potomac in the
cramped quarters of the Sequoia
to help the Ti&ewater Association
of Virginia Women commemorate
the landing of the first permanent
American colonists.
About 5000 persons were crowded
into the sandy well of a natural
sand dune amphitheater at the tip
of the cape. Mr.. Hoover wore his
silk hat and Mrs. Hoover pretty
new Ilac-colored bonnet. Both were
ruined in the doWnpour, which be-
gan five minutes after the cere-
monies started.
Prayer Is Halted
While Girl Scouts ran screaming
for the cover of the stands the
President and first lady stood with
the rain beating down upon them,
not moving an inch. Even Bishop
Thomson Of the Episcopal church,
the radio nicrophones in front Of
him, was forced to stop his prayer
at this point: Give us this day our
daily bread"
Raincoats we're thrown over the
shoulders of the president and first
lady and several persons tried to
hold umbrellas above their heads,
but this protection was fruitless
against the whipping gusts of heavy
rain.
The viciferous Girl Scouts were
excited, but not frightened, and
seemed to enjoy the rain more than
did the dignitaries present. Their
screams mingled with blasts OF light
ming, runbling thunder, intonations
of the minister and the sWishing OF
the rain to create a tumultuous
scene in which every one was sour
rying but the President and Mrs.
Hoover,
Caught in Crowd
Five minutes in the downpour
compelled the executive to give up,
AS he stepped out of the stands "a
the return walk to q special train,
the rain stopped. But when ne
reached the tracks, the rain started
up again, heavier than before.
The President and Mrs. Hoover
took refuge in tea room, where
they we're marooned half an hour
while hundreds of excited citizens,
who never had seen a President,
milled around him at arms length.
The train and a long-sought motor
car arrived at the same time, and
Mr.. Hoover chose the motor for the
ten-mile return trip to the Sc
quoa.
With a hooking smile the sun
again burst from the clouds as he
stepped aboard the yacht for a
warm hath and a change of clothes.
But the end was not yet. Squalls
internationally blew across the low
or Potomac, and the work boat
Yacht danced to the tune OF the
deep. The squalls we're not very Sc
we're. but they made travelling ex-
lremely uncomfortable.