Defying fierce winds, thousands of refugees take the freedom ride to Florida
At first Washington talked of deporting the newcomers and ordered fines levied against the boats' skippers. Still they came. Then nature intervened, with 60-m.p.h. winds whipping the Florida Straits into a maelstrom worthy of Melville. Still they came, landing daily at Key West in sturdy shrimp boats, speedy pleasure cruisers, leaky outboards. The flotilla that had begun setting off from Florlida two weeks ago to pick up refugees at the Cuban port of Mariel had more than tripled in size...
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