Evening star., 1934-03-08
FIRST LADY LANDS
ON ST. CRO|X ISLE
Mrs. Roosevelt, Accompa.
MED by Gov. Paul Pearson,
Flies From st. Thomas.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands, March
8.-Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Gov.
Paul Pearson, and q party aboard the
airliner American Clipper came here
today in 20 minutes from st. Thomas.
They went ashore at 10 am, East
erh standard time, at the place where
Christopher Columbus Is reputed to
have landed from his first crossing
Of the Atlantic.
From the plane, Mrs. Roosevelt went
ashore in q row boat. She Jumped
from the boat to the dock and there
she was presented by a Negro child
with q huge bouquet of flowers.
Another present was given her
there-a bottle of 45-year -old st.
Croix rum Ito take to the President"
Mrs. Roosevelt today swiftly circu-
lated through the Virgin Islands to
see what the new deal and public
works program Of her husband, the
President. had brought to the island
possession.
She went swimming at 7:30 am,
then she and her party visited the
lofty. buttreSsed "Bluebeard Castle"
where Federal money is now building
a hotel to turn the pirate lair into
tourist dollars as an aid to the i'm
poverished islands.
Views Farm Work.
She saw the beginnings of farm
work around Lindbergh Bay. watched
roads being built, school buildings re-
paired. and swamps drained.
Untiringly she asked practical oues-
tions to bring out the facts on schools.
on poverty. and on the pressing local
problem OF vagrant. parentless chill
dren
Onicials told her that the activities
OF the last few months had resulted
in Improvements with which nothing
else. since the islands were bought in
1917. could be compared Federal
flour. butter and pork are feeding the
poor.
Wherever Mrs. Roosevelt went the
enthusiasm was so rampant that a
local doctor exclaimed, The people
are waving their hats OFF,
Before her swim this morning, Mrs
Roosevelt and Gov. Paul Pearson
skipped rope on the beach.
Thousands of native women gath
cred about and Mrs. Roosevelt told
ttem:
Il hope you feel as long as my hus-
band is in ONCE you have a friend"
When she departed in an automo-
bile for the airport the assembled
women called:
Kiss Sstie and Buzzie for me-"
May a crown Of glory rest on your
head with diamonds in it,
God be with you'
As the car departed. many Of the
spectators made the sign Of the cross.
Yesterdays Travels.
The First Lady and her friends ar
rived here in their airliner from Port
au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. after
stops at San Pedro De Marcoris,
Santo Domingo and San Juan. Puerto
Rico-b.inging to total of 1858
miles the distance flown since they
left Florida.
A hospital building was named for
Mrs. Roosevelt when. after making
what was called her first real"
speech of the tour. she began in
earnest q study Of economic and
social conditions. The structure, in
q brief ceremony. was named the
Anna Eleanor Building"
There was a roar of applause when.
in an address to a large crowd gath
cred to greet her, Mrs. Roosevelt said,
Il am happy to greet you all and
bring you the greetings Of my hus-
band-the President"
She said Mr.. Roosevelt planned to
visit your very beautiful islands"
next Summer.
Rain was falling when the plane
in the harbor yesterday.
Many natives rowed out in boats to
be the first to extend greetings,