The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-18
ROOSEVELT ARRIVES
In KEY WEST TODAY

Continued from Page One)
formed travellers who were bound
north that the first bus which
would be available today would
be the one leaving for Miami al
3 o'clock.
Crowds Line Thoroughfares
Crowds assembled at the END
sof the Boulevard on North Beach
and continued along the line OF
the parade direct to the Naval
Station gate, where another i'm
mense crowd was awaiting the
President and party.
Along Division street and al
the q Division Street School the
crowd was very dense. AT the
school were assembled approx
mately 1000 school children with
American and Cuban flags, eag-
erly awaiting the signal for ac-
ton.
When the signal was given the
WPA Hospitality Band began to
play Hail To The Chief, which
was followed directly by the
singing of the pupils of that
cheering number, Happy Days
Are Here Again, led by George
Mills White, director of the Fed
eral Music Project
Presidential Car Moved Fast
The passing of the Presidents
and his party was so swift that
there was little time for the sing
ing group to finish it's song be-
fore the presidential party was
far away down Division Street
and was passing the Convent of
Mary Immaculate where there
was another group of pupils
awaiting to bid a cheerful well
come to the President and his
party.
On down to Duval street where
another asemblage of grown-ups
and children, waving flags and
banners and shouting cries of
welcome, while the great execu-
tive waved his hand continually
to the group and flashed his ia
nous smile.
Onlookers In Gay Mood
All along the line were gaily
dressed children as well as the
older folks, alive with the feel
ing of this great event, and cheers
made the welkin ring at each
passing of the official cars, and
there was not one moment from
when the parade started until
the naval station was reached
that the ringing of cheers and
the singing of different groups
did not keep alive the feeling of
excitement which pervaded the
throngs, estimated to be at least
$4,000 and many of them visi-
tors. M 49,.
Colored children and teachers
from the Douglass School were
assembled at Showers Park and
there was no doubt in the minds
of those who saw the happy ex-
pressions of their faces and the
sincerity of their greetings.
Checks Arrangements .
Colonel Edward Startling, chief
of the White House secret serv-
ice detail, arrived here shortly
before noon yesterday, checked
arrangements at the naval station
for the Presidents reception
with Lieut.. Fort Callahan and
pronounced everything OK, ex-
cept one thing:
We've got to install a special
private wire from the naval sta
ton to Washington so the Presi-
dent may talk with his advisers
before he boards the Houston" ,
the colonel said. n
Upshot of this statement was
that Lieut.. Callahan arranged for
the wire service and decided to
install the telephone in the quar-
ters normally occupied by Lee
Pierce, aide to the officer in
charge of the station. Entrance
to the office was found to be
some three feet above the side
walk alongside the duty office,
so carpenters Immediately began
construction of a ramp for the
Presidents use.
This is the first time I've ever
been called upon to give up my
office for the President of the
United States, Aide Pierce de-
clared. That's something I'll al
ways be able to tell about.
Members Of Party
Accompanying the President
were Admiral Ross T. McIntire,
White House physician; Captain
Daniel j. Callaghan, White House
Naval Aide; Col. E. N. Watson,
aide; William D. Hassat;
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief
of naval operations; Lieut.. Com
mander W!uL. Frieseman; Mayor
Willard M. Albury of Key West,
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