# • 
Saturday, August 6, 1938 
It had been intended to anchor off Catalina Harbor, 
Old Providence Island, by 1000 on this day* But the Island, 
on approaches completely blotted out by a driving rain squall, 
so the Presidential Detachment slowed in order to obtain proper navi 
Rational fixes prior to anchoring. At 1026, the Houston anchored 
in eight fathoms of water. 
About one mile inshore of Houston anchorage lay the 
Colombian destroyer Caldas, full-dressed in compliment to 
President Roosevelt. A boarding officer from this vessel came 
aboard Houston at 1040, and at 1135 her commanding officer, 
# / 
Cap it an de Fragata R. Ho undell boarded the Houston to pay 
his respects to the President who received him and chatted 
informally with him for some fifteen minutes and arranged 
to pick him up later for a fishing excursion. This Colombian 
destroyer skipper proved to be a most entertaining and likable 
chap, - a retired British Naval Officer, who , because of 
inability "to make a go of it ashore," had accepted a commission 
in the Colombian Navy. 
On the return of a preliminary reconnaissance party 
from the ship^ in charge of Lt . Holbrook, a report about the 
interesting ruins of an old Spanish Fort on Catalina Island 
was rendered to the President. This particular fort played 
quite a part in the buccaneering days of Sir Harry Morgan, 
who used the "Island of Providencia" as his refit base for 
forays against Panamanian ports. 
