The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-28

terrible retreat from Mons. received
welcome that was frigid in comparison
with tonight's march to the two re-
turned aviators through the streets o.
London.
From king to lowliest street sweep
or. the city gave itself up to unre-
strained adulation and thanksgivlhs
for the return Of the two heroes from
the dead--all the more remarkable III
the phlegmatic British character
The smiling Australian and the
sober faced navigator when they step
ped from the train at Kings Cross Sta
ton at o'clock this evening. fonnd
themselves surrounded by dukes, earls.
personal equerries of the King and
military dignitaries OF exalted RANK
who would not have condescended 10
recognize their existence In ordinary
circumstances. In short they discov-
cred themselves on the shores OF Lon :
don with an ordeal of hero worship
ahead OF them.v
Even with their experiences at Edin-
burgh and every station en- route from
Thurso, the ariators were not pre-
pared for the overwhelming welcome
awaiting them. Perhaps the coolest
member of the party was Mrs. Haw-
ker. who had gone to Grantham 10
meet her husband Carrying great
husbands arm with a radiant smile,
she seemed to guide him toward this
new peril Of clamoring thousands with
calm assurance.
The streets about the station were
packed from curb to curb and de-
spite the vigilance of the police IL
was almost impossible to carve an au-
tomobile lane for the heroes and thor
accompanying dignitaries. Over the
bx t0t ~
ROYAL Aero club the automobiles
erawled betwixt solid masses OF peo-
pie.
Hawker and Grieve had to Keep
constantly raising the Australian cam
paign hats which had been forced
upon their heads by the enthusiastic
"Aussies" who surrounded them a.
they aiighted from the train and fair
ily raised the roof Of the station with
their cheers.
Flowers were showered upon them
from the windows as they passed and
their progress was marked by con.
.inual yolteying OF cheers. British ane
Australian flags were everywhere
dancing ON n veritable sea of color.
At the Aero club there were three
clothes baskets of kilograms from al
the world Hawker, upon catchins
sight of them, threw up his hands II
mock despair at the impossibility q
freaesfsYg sh@ssse essasss sss -
| In Difference to the desires OF ths
| families OF the two men who nae
virtually come back from, the dead
| the ceremonies at the club were made
as short as possible and after a rounf
I of champagne toasts had been drum
| and BRIEF speeches OF acknowledge
ment had been made by Hawker anf
| Grieve. they hurried away to thei
/ homes to receive the greatest welcom'
/ of all.
/ On the long rail journey from
t Thurso, at the uttermost north o
Scotland. every stop was an ovation
4 for Hawker and Grieve. In Edinhurgf
where the two fiiers alighted 70
breakfast, they were carried from IN
train on the shoulders of enthusiasm
Scots and received a vociferous send
off when the train resumed Its jour
ney to London,
AT Inverness Hawker made know
his intention of making another at
tempt at the transatlantic flight.
II will. try again and think l cal
succeed" he said.
He also minimized the dangers o
the experience through which he ha
Just passed,
| THE risk wasn't as great as peopi
,thought." he said. ut was re-fect
Nv STRAIGHTFORWARD attempt to fly <ver
not to do or die enterprise