The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-11-18

can be told. 1t is the local aboard the vessel.
 The public doesn't generally realize that the Secret Service maintains just as rigid vigilance while the President is on a cruise down the Potomac as when he is on one of his trips across coun- try.
 The theory is that while the Presidential yacht is lying at an- chor during the night, as 1t usually does on weekend cruises, anyone could come alongside.
 In order to guard against fire, storms, or any other accident, the Coast Guard vessel Cuyahoga al- ways trailed the Sequoia at dis tance of 300 yards, maintaining constant communication by radio telephone.
 On the Sequoia, the Presidents cabin was located on the main deck, port side, little aft of amidships. It was cut out of the main saloon, where he was served his meals. On the Electra, new Presidential yacht, built of steel, a special suite is being fitted out for him.
 Life On the Potomac
 Life aboard the new yacht will be essentially the same as aboard the old.
 Sunday morning, the Presi- dent sleeps late. No sounds are allowed on board until the buzz ger from the Presidents cabin announces that he is awake and ready for breakfast. (In the White House he is called every morning.)
 A Filipino cabin boy brings his tray and the Sunday papers. The ship rides at anchor eighty miles down Chesapeake Bay from An- napolis, but the Presidents plane has come alongside at 8:30 with the papers.
 The anchor is weighed, and the cruise is resumed. The Presi- dent goes out on the after deck and takes a seat in wicker chair. The cabin boy brings him magazines and folio of corre- spondence.
 He reads two or three maga- zine articles that have been marked for his attention. Then a bulky report from a Cabinet officer. Then. with more pleas ure, he examines the latest is- sue of the American Philatelist to see what rare stamps are be- ing offered on the market.
 Miss Marguerite LeHand joins him and he turns to recent cor respondence. There is no dicta- ton. He hands her one letter at a time, with brief instruction. She makes a note, and is ready for the next. The writing will be done next day in Washington. Presidential Fishing
 The P 'nt calls to guests on the lL stern deck: How about i...e flshing?"
 The anchor is dropped, tackle taken from the bunker, and the cans of fish-lure are opened. The Lure" is thrown into the water to bring fish alo. le.
 The catch may be ha- Leads, or bluefish. All are edible and provide food for the next meal on board. Fishing was poor dur ing the summer cruises.
 Before noon the President must head north again, with 120 miles to go up the Bay and the Poto- mac River to Washington. The Sequoia's cruising speed is only ten knots an hour.
 Dinner is served in the din- ing saloon on the main deck, with its lockwood panels, blue rug, and gold drapes at the windows. There is a ships clock that strikes three bells as the meal begins, and Q radio that plays softly during the meal.
 The rest of the day is spent on the after deck, where tea and supper are served. The whole party of ten or twelve are to- gether there. There is practical ly no private talk, no high pow cred huddie between the Presi- dent and a guest. Time is spent in chatting, reading, watching the passing shoreline.
 Unseaworthy Sequ0ia
 The Sequoia was not very sea- worthy, this being one reason for Its abandonment. On a cruise to Cape Henry two years ago, when she encountered heavy weather she rolled alarmingly.
 There is little chance of mis- hap, however. Special precau- tions are taken with life jackets life boats, life rafts, fire extin- guishers and sprinkling systems in addition to the trailing Cuya- hoga.
 The President usually goes aboard at Annapolis rather than at Washington. since the voyage down the Potomac is 100 miles, . ten hour cruise, be- fore getting into the open wa ters of the Chesapeake. The cruise seldom extends south of the Rappahann0ck.
 There lis less formality as