The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-15
REPORTER FINALLY
fcontinued From Paue One)

Is sREPOkl kk FINALLY
tcontinved From Page onel
in the deserted Fort, on cot left
over from WPA days.
d Fate was against me. On the eve
of both trips by boat with the
Coast Guard, big stories came up
in Key West demanding my pre-
sence at The Citizen.
In February / resolved to 60 at
the first opportunity in Pen Ed
CARS Sea Bee, which takes only 40
minutes to go over and returns in
the same day.
Two weeks ago Don and Bernice
Joseph, winter visitors from Erie,
Pa, said they would like to make
the Tortugas trip. My hopes grew
high. Pilot Pen Edgar set the date
of flight for the three of us, told
us to be in readiness, to take as
little as possible so as not to over
load.
We set it up for last Sunday. Sat
surday was stormy and so rough
that the Coast Guard boat took ele-
ven hours returning from the Fort.
Sunday dawned bright and clear,
but Pen said it was too windy and
choppy for a good landing at Fort
jefferson. Disappointed we agreed
on Monday. asked Jeanette
Blount to substitute for me at the
paper and all arrangements were
made. Monday morning / woke to
a swift gale blowing ever the Is
land, but the Josephs and ] none
theless went out to Edgar's house
on the Blight.
mo flying there today, come on
in and have a coffee" he said.
Diconsolately / rushed to the
paper after we agreed en- Tuesday
for the flight.
Tuesday dawned muggy and
dark. I checked with Pen for the
third time.
mot good day." he said. II
wouldn't take her out today. Small
craft warnings are up"
Once more / returned to The CT
tizen in the early morning, my
hopes for the Tortugas trip dashed.
Tuesday however became bright
and clear. Our hopes rose once
more for the trip, but my heart
sank at having to tell the boss once
more that / might be away from
the office and would have to get a
substitute RhV tIaks
i'lThe Tide Of We stiisr turned. DO.
CO chies aWs6fhse Y b6rtsu Gsaid
thstws veyld hs,eble 40 fly., ~.
lot Pen Edgar agreed. Once
more ihe Joscphs fFeshened up
HE sandwiches made for she
planned Sunday trip. Once more
they put new coffee In she Their.
mos bottle. Once more we got our
bathing suits. flippsrs. and Cog
QteS ~ peaotneSS.
Wednesday dawned perfect. typi-
cal Key West weather, except for
the utter stiffness following the
gales Of the past four or five days.
AT $50 Wednesday morning we
drove up TO Pen Edgar's dock on
Garrison Blight. Pen was sitting
waiting for US. The blue green Sea
Bee shone in the early morning
sun. He looked aSkance at all of
our diving equipment, but placed
Ii in the plane.
Hope we can get off the water
in this calm" ne said.
I'VE Nyill, we have to- said
growing desperate by now. Surely
nothing more could prevent our
getting to Tortugas.
We got into the little plane. Pen
TAXED out through the Blight in the
light blue-green water. He warmed
up the engines and gathered speed.
speed, speed. | looked at that wa
ter along side silently praying that
we would make the take-off.
Suddenly | felt a light lift sky
ward. Ne were off. We climbed up
to .ahoN 700 feet. The water be-
meath as took on the orange, green
and mauve colors Of the planet be-
meath 1t that was yet TO discover.
We flew over the msngrove-
covered Marouesss, then HE lif-
tie white lighthouse q Rehseca
shcsl appeared In NE Gar dis
fanee. White and black shrimp
beats came into view.
When do we get our first view
Of Fort jefferson" I asked Pen
impatientiy.
In 20 minutes. !"
waited breathless, the goose
flesh beginning TO creep up my