ately became such a center of attraction that the Port 

 Captain found it necessary to mount a guard on our aft 

 deck in order to prevent an increasing number of sight- 

 seers from coming aboard. 



As the noon hour approached, the dock swarmed with 

 people and cars. We welcomed aboard Prefect Sam and 

 his wife, who had arranged a gala dinner in our honor 

 that night; Mme. Magloire, sister of Haiti's president; and 

 Colonel Chassagne, who invited us to his home for cham- 

 pagne after the ceremony. Soon after, Ambassador Davis 

 and his party arrived. 



The anchor hung from the rigging above the deck, 

 slim and white in its coating of ancient coral, awaiting the 

 signal to be swung ashore into the truck which would carry 

 it to Army headquarters. Sea Diver was crowded and so 

 was the dock. 



When the moment arrived. Prefect Sam, Ambassador 

 Davis, Ed, Captain Weems and I lined up on the dock 

 near the anchor. Ed made the presentation to the prefect, 

 who then accepted it for the city to the cheers of the crowd, 

 while the anchor was eased into the back of the truck. 

 Then it seemed that everyone on the dock flocked aboard 

 Sea Diver. For a while we were very busy greeting our 

 guests. 



This was indeed a contrast to the first week we had 

 spent near this same dock, indifferently received and com- 

 pletely frustrated in our efforts. We could now appreciate 

 that most of the delay had occurred because we had ar- 

 rived in the midst of Holy Week and a national holiday. 

 Certainly no one could be warmer and friendlier than 

 these same people, now that we had come to know them. 

 They were as pleased as ourselves that we had found this 

 evidence of Columbus's first visit to Hispaniola. 



Colonel Chassagne assured us the relic would be care- 

 fully guarded at Army headquarters until a suitable place 



222 Sea Diver 



