The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-09-21

Too Late To Classify

A night CLERK In On apartment
hotel has Q Dot Of time on his
hands. Through the long hours Of
ne night after guests have retired.
activity on the switchboard eases
of and . fellow has time 10 spend
with his thoughts and dreams.
Bruce Atkins, night CLERK al the
Embassy Hotel Apartments IN
Tampa. found The task rather Dor.
ing with nothing In particular 10
think and dream about until Q
friend and buddy who made q ha.
bic of Dropping By Cor q visit most
every evening came up with the
question. How would you like 10
take q trip around the world"
Sure Bruce would like Il. Who
woaldn'tf But whoever heard Of .
night elerk. especially ere with .
wife and tw0-year-old daughter
embaFking On such q venturef Al
best he e0uldn't raise more than
Q thousand dollars and that would
not take three people very far.
I flruee's friend. Lewis Levin, be.
lieved that q person could DO any.
thing they wanted 10 Il they had
faith and courage and we're willing
20 work at IL. II slx or eight con
genial folks with the same Idea COZ
Together why eouldn't they acquire
. boat and make . trip around the
world.
II was o crazy hea. Of course,
bot the more Bruce thought about
lt the less formidable Il seemed
Maybe Il could be done. Maybe
somebody with q boat would b
interested. Maybe other venture.
some souls would pool their resour-
ees and effort 10 make such q
dream q reality
4 That's how n al started. Bruce
and Lewis. with nothing 10 90 on
but . Wild Idea started % work on
the problem. they began 10 look
for . boat. and found q young chap
named Bob Jefferies who owned
q eoioot auxiliary san boat; the
l"Vagabond." Bob was q good sail.
lor and navigator. Twice he had
piloted his ''vagabon In the Bal.
. timore 10 Nassau Yacht Race and
won: an engineer and seasoned
. skipper, he vas In q position %
, answer the problem Of .ransporta.
ton. Bob was definitely interested.
, Things were taking shape now
ell they needed vas q eongenlal
p erew made up Of fellows who had
. little money and plenty Of Drawn
; and experience 10 Contribute. Ben
ny Thaekery. bell captain a q Mia.
! mi hotel. learned about the plan
and the fellows Ike him. Another
J chap. Jim Brown. en- insurance
claim admster, became interested
and that made . crew Of five. All
were young. enthusiastic: three
J had boat handllae experience and
things were locking up.
Bot what about Mrs. Atkins and
: the daughterG Bruce couldn't walk
I off and leave them behind, even
4 Nancy did have Q good JOB as
; secretary. So they all cot their
heads together and decided thas
{ Nancy and the baby would 20 a.
Ions as Keeper Of The Log. Nancy
: plans 20 write . book about The
} trip.
Firms and individuals began Of.
fering assistance. One concern Is
J providing san repair Kits another
, medical supplies. And that re.
} minds me Bruce said they would
welcome q young doctor 10 round
J cut their crew Z they could find
J one. Other offerings include paint
and varnish. air foam mattresses
! Tor hunks, and q supply Of dried
apples.
. The "vagabOnd" Il being read.
= ed for . two-year rOund-the-world
: trip. and the courageous adven.
turers expect 10 hop off some time
in October. Bon Voyage. youngs.
! tsrs. and God Speed.