Renewing Old Acquaintances

[L Verge]

Betty and I have to be careful 'cause we have some stories that could get us in trouble!

I'll pass on one for safety's sake. Don't try rowing across the Potomac River when you have no idea what you are doing. That was a lesson learned by James O. Hall, John C. Brennan, Fr. Keesler, and I think Richard Sloan who made such an attempt. It was a very rough time - and then a storm came up and they had to turn around and head back to the Maryland shore where their car was parked. The boat started filling with water, and I think it was Fr. K. who kept bailing. Frankly, I would have had the youngest one (Richard) bailing and let Father Keesler do the Hail Marys...

I understand that Mike Kauffman and a reporter tried it years later, but included a motor boat as an escort. After an hour of rowing, they had gotten only about a quarter-mile and gave up because of the stiff currents. Visitors at Surratt House always snicker when our electric map talks about Booth and Herold getting off course the first night of their attempt to cross and ending up back in Maryland. If they only knew...