Page 135 - John Anderson
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Daytona, White's workers had laid the ties "right on top of the ground
without preparing the roadbed" — and sometimes the rails would
have to curve around big trees." The band played "The Star Spangled
Banner" on the march from the wharf to Ridgewood Avenue — they
played it all the way — repeating it several times as the bandmaster
believed it was the one selection they knew well. At the beginning of
the ceremonies they played the national anthem again, and because
it was a patriotic occasion, they played it at the end of the
ceremonies.
Jim Owens, one of the early engineers on White's "Rusty Railroad" of-
ten stopped the train for passengers to shoot turkey and deer. Other
engineers would stop the train, and the crew would get the
passengers out to see the "tropical attractions" such as an alligator, a
flock of wild turkeys, or wildflowers along the track.
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