The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-14

ltained us with many bits of in
iteresting misinformation in con-
nection with the recent trip of the
Chief Executive to Dry Tortugas.
In one paper we learned that these
islands are south of Key West. A
Miami paper told us that Fort JEFF
ferson was built during "the Sem
mole Wars" Another organ in
the same city joined with the New
York Herald Tribune to inform
us that DR.. Samuel Mudd was inn
priSoned in the Fort for many
years. Mudd's confinement ac-
tually lasted between three and
four years. John c. O'Brien in
the same New York paper gravely
characterized Fort Jefferson as "a
vast pile used by the Confeder-
acy. y. These items of informa-
ton Cd, which could be matched
by others, should interest both the
historian and the psychologist.
The proximity of Fort Jefferson
to Key West should make an un-
lEembellished Except by TRUTH ac-
count of F. d. RS visit of special
Interest to the people of the Is
land City.
! Shortly before nine a. m. on
the last day of November the
u. S. S. Potomac bore the Presi-
dents party to a point north of
Fort Jefferson. 1t was accom-
panied by the U. S. Destroyer
Selfridge. The ships anchored
there and a party led by Captain
Clark of the Potomac came to in
spect the Fort dock and to ascer-
tain the depth of the waters. After
the captain was satisfied on these
points, the Potomac soon came in
and tied up at the Fort while the
Selfridge anchored in deep water
some distance away.
On the first and succeeding days,
approximately eighty members OF
the two boats inspected the Fort
and signed the visitors book. Har-
ny Hopkins head of the WPA; Sec.
rotary Ickes, of the Department
of Interior, and a number of 9TH
ers went fishing and were re-
warded by the capture of several
large barracudas. The President,
on the way to the Tortugas or in
the area itself, ''bagged" a large
lmackerel. In the evening, in re-
lsponse to an invitation from Cap
tain Clark, the acting superintend-
ent enjoyed a delicious meal
aboard the Potomac in company
with the officers of the ship and
a number of secret service men.
Wednesday proved a lucky day
for the fishermen. The President
his son, James Roosevelt; Harry
Hopkins, Secretary Ickes, and q
number of others trolled for sew
leral hours in the afternoon. They
came in laden with spoils to the
number of at least thirty barra-
cudas. Of these, F. D. r. account
ed for two. Mr.. Clark of the Sc
cret Service carried off the hon
ors by bringing in nine specimens
of that dog-tooth species. During
the day the captain of the Poto-
mac generously presented a large
American flag to the Acting Sup.
erintendent for use on the Fort.
From time to time members OF
the Potomac's crew and Filipinos
from the galley tried to 'out-
smart" the educated" mango
Isnappers under the dock but sue
Iceeded mainly in losing a great
deal of good bait. Sam Sawyer
with true Key West skill and
ECONOMY of motions demonstrated
Ito interested bystanders how to
carry out the initial steps in the
conversion of fresh barracuda in
to dried provendor and Roig gave
la practical exhibition of skiff-
Isculling.
| The next day the members oil
THE Presidents party diverted
themselves in various ways. Some
went over to nearby Bush Key t.
wander around and to enjoy a sur
bath. Many were guided around
the Fort or walked about at will
In the afternoon, as usual, the
president and others matched
their wits with the members oil
the finny tribe. The fresh north.
least wind initiated against sue
sceSs and their combined efforts
melted only one or two barTa,
!cudas.
Friday proved more success.
fuI day for the disciples Of Izaak
Walton in the Presidential party
A considerable number of barra-
Icudas were captured by members
!of the group. Secret Service Mar
CLARK again demonstrated his
proweSS by waging q fierce bat
successful battle with q four-foot
25-pound barracuda This was
the largest fish caught by any
member Of the party and the big
gest AbagKed" BY Clark in .foul
iyearS". The group IN +. D. Rs
I ANHIN OTD rNE r