Early again took top honors for the largest catch of the day. Pa earned 
the sobriquet of M Gun-Shot Watson” when he directed the firing of two 45 
caliber bullets into an inoffensive Tuna on his hook mistakenly taken for 
a Shark - Pa’s pet abhorrence! 
Recognizing that the initiation ceremonies of the day took heavy toll of 
the energies and imagination of the former Pollywogs in the Presidential 
Party especially of the press correspondent , Steve Early, the President 
himself added these lines to the day’s press release: 
’’The former Pollywog members of the President’s Party have all survived 
but while they are recuperating, this despatch is being sent not by Mr. 
Early but by the Senior ohellback himself.” 
After an eventful day all hands were prayerfully glad to hie them- 
selves to the ’’downy” after the movies. And the Engineer’s Force earned 
an unexpected and welcomed respite when it was decided to remain at anchor 
overnight . 
Tuesday 26 July 
At 0700 this morning off Tagus Cove the McDougal moored alongside the 
Houston and commenced fueling. By 1000 the operation was completed, 75/)00 
gallons of oil having been transferred from the Houston to her smaller Es- 
cort Ship and, at 1016, both vessels were underway and proceeding toward 
Elizabeth Bay on Albemarle Island. Narborough Island was rounded during 
this passage affording a complete view of that bleak, volcanic bit of land. 
Late rising by the President and his Party was the order of the day 
after the busy activities of the preceding one. But, after anchoring in 
Elizabeth Bay at 1430, ’’anglers fever” returned in full force and all hands 
eagerly took to the boats for three hours of fishing. By a remarkable co- 
incidence all three boats brought back the same number of fish, forty. 
Each catch comprised about an equal number of Grouper and Mackerel while 
the President caught a number of small fish of rare species as a result of 
his bottom fishing. No extremely large fish were caught this day but, 
when the sizable ones were weighed it was found that the day’s honors for 
single fish poundage went to Ross Mclntire with a nineteen pound Grouper - 
shading by a whisker one landed by the President. Pa Watson regretted 
that his aversion for Sharks led him to throw overboard the one landed by 
him - for it is highly probable that his shark would have taken the honors. 
Immediately after hoisting her boats (1823) the Houston got underway 
for Post Office Bay, on Charles Island, an easy overnight run. 
The President and members of his Party after an excellent dinner took 
in the movies (’’Double Wedding”). Due to anticipation of early rising for 
the morrow’s landing party, most of the Party hied themselves to early bed. 
Wednesday 27 July 
Af After an overnight run the Presidential Detachment anchored in Post 
Office Bay, Charles Island at 0725 this day. 
Shortly after anchoring a volunteer party of some fifty officers and 
men plus Dr. Schmitt put off in a motor launch and landed on a sandy 
beach. Supplies for Mr. Wittmer and family, who reside on the Island, 
were taken ashore by this party. It was the original intention to carry 
these supplies inland to the Wittmer abode> but, due to the scarcity of 
time (it was expected to get underway at 1100) and the distance to tra- 
verse over a rough trail, the supplies were cached in an old overturned 
tank just inshore from the ’’postoffice barrel” erected years ago by Bri- 
tish whalers. The party then trekked inland for an hour hoping to meet 
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Mr. Wittmer on his way toward the beach. But on failing to contact him 
after an hour’s hike magazines and newspapers were left on the trail un- 
der a mound of stones, together with a letter stating the location of the 
supplies. Thereupon, the party returned to the beach and reembarked, ar- 
riving at the ship about 1100. 
Much concern was expressed over the non-return to the ship of Pa and 
the First Lieutenant of the Houston, Lieut-Commander Kelly, who had landed 
on an exploration tour shortly after the first party. They (Pa and Kelly) 
were reputed to have wandered off the trail after separation from the re- 
mainder of their six man party and to have been lost. As it turned out, 
they did lose the trail and had beat their way to the beach through bram- 
bles and underbrush, during which dash Pa slipped headlong on the volcanic 
rocks and returned with several abrasions and contusions on his jaw, these 
furnishing the topic for much good-natured chaffing — veiled references be- 
ing made to meetings with the”Baroness” of fabled fame, whose former habi- 
tat had been this identical island. (Note: See Pa’s postscript.) 
Meanwhile another expedition of ’’succor” had been despatched in a 
motor whaleboat to a point along the coast-line some four miles to the 
southward, where ship’s aviators had noted two men and two women in the 
vicinity of miserable huts. It developed that these huts belonged to an 
Ecuadorian Indian and his companions. They were found to be sufficiently 
supplied with food, but additional delicacies were given them as well as 
to two Americans, a Mr. and Mrs. Conway, who later appeared on the scene 
with many letters for transmission to the United States. 
The Houston, meantime, had left Postoffice Bay and lay-to off the 
small cove where the transfer of supplies was taking place. This opera- 
tion having been completed the Houston at 1430 departed for Gardner Bay 
on Espanola (Hood) Island, anchoring there with the McDougal about 1800. 
A delicious dinner given by Captain Barker to the President and mem- 
bers of his Mess was greatly enjoyed by all hands. This was followed by 
the movies (’’Vivacious Lady”) . 
The Houston and McDougal remained at anchor overnight at Gardner Bay. 
P.S. Colonel Watson with his usual reserve, at first made no comment 
on this incident. He finally consented to talk as follows: ”He and Com- 
mander Kelly and four others, to be exact. Captain Barker, Commander Bailey, 
Doc O’Connor and Qualters, started off on an animal trail, in the hope, as 
the Colonel expressed it, of meeting hand to hand and capturing for Dr. 
Schmitt a specimen of wild bull known to be in large number on the Island. 
The six man formation proceeded intact until it received point-blank a 
salvo of pistol fire delivered by a recreation group of sailors doing a 
little practice firing. It was said that O’Connor hit the full prone posi- 
tion at the first burst. Anyhow, when Watson and Kelly looked around they 
were alone and remained so during their explorations.” 
EMW. 
Thursday 28 July 
The Presidential Detachment remained at anchor in Gardner Bay through- 
out the day. 
Forenoon fishing of some two and a half hours was enjoyed by the Presi- 
dent and members of his party. All hands attempted to hook large fish and 
avoid shoal Grouper waters but despite the precaution each boat’s catch 
contained a goodly sprinkling of this ubiquitous fish. Several excellent 
specimens of the compartively rare Golden Grouper were caught. Fred Adams 
returned to the ship with the largest fish of the forenoon, a 46 pound 
Yellow-Fin Tuna, while he and Pa Watson also garnered the honors for the 
boat having the largest catch. 
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