, 1925-02-02

When we were in London the
prince Of Wales had told US hat he
intended to visit America and he
promised to be waiting for US in
New York. Sure enough. there he
was. lie came over. his face all
smiles. and as he shook hands he
said: Great show, boys. Well done
Instead OF going right on to New
York. as we would liked TO have
done. we ran our planes into the
hnngars and then did our usual even.
ing's work. looking them over care
gully and s%ervicinE up. That night
after attending a reception given
by Col. Hensley. commanding officer
az Mitchell field. we retired as early
rs possible in order to be In shape
for our flight to Washington the
next day.
September 8 was a dark. foggy
day and It was not until nearly 10
o'clock that we got off. with Gen.
Patrick again leading. A stiff head
wind held us up seriously, and. al
though our three planes had plenty
Of gas on which to get through des-
pite the wind. our escort had to
come down at Aberdeen. Md. From
Mitchell field we flew over Coney
Island. Governors Island. Hobo.
ken. Philadelphia and Wilmington.
Cen. Mitchell, who had flown out
from Washington met as at Aber-
deem. while the escort Planes were
taking on o gas. In passing
over the B. & o. yards in Baltimore
We saw scores Of locomotives all
blowing whistles. To our amaze
ment we could hear them family.
It was the first time hat any Of US
had v been able TO hear any sound
whatsoever above the roar of our
$50 horse power Liberties.
New Orleans Goes Dead
Ten miles beyond Baltimore the
motor or tha New Orleans suddenly
stopped dead. Can you imagine what
lt feels Ike TO he sailing along eve
al thousand feet in the air and all
ut oncc Zoo have your engine freeze7
II SO. tasu you can only realize
about halt the emotions OF disgust
and distress that swept over Erik
and Jack. for here they were within
n few miles OF Washington. where
they knew that many OF the heads
or the government Of tho United
States. possibly sven the President
himself. were waiting 10 welcome
them Mt the most important recep-
lion Of all"
But luckily the engine of the New
Orleans had picked out the right
pace to go wrong. At that mo
ment the world flyers happened to
be directly above the only field in
that locality suitable as a landing
ground for such large planes. Sew
eral Of tho escort ships. including
Gen. Patrick's landed beside the New
Orleans. AT the generals request
Erik Jumped into a De Haviand
and took the place OF Lieut.. Louis
NIelster. who had been plotting Gun
mar Nelson. So he flew into Wash
ington with brother for a passenger.
Jack stayed with the New Orleans
and discovered that the timing gears
had slipped. thereby causing the
motor TO freeze.
All Officlaldom Waits
When the flyers arrived at Boil
.ng field they were welcomed by
the President and Mrs. Coolidge. the
members OF the cabinet. and practi-
cally every high official in Washing
ton. Owing tc tho delay caused by
the bad weather and high winds and
because the general did not want the
boys 20 take any Unnecessary risks
at this late stage OF their flight, the
world cruisers were several hours
behind their schedule. But in spite
OF drenching rain and important en-.
fragments. the President and his
cabinet waited patiently. passing
away the time by looking over the
various planes at Boiling field.
Meanwhile Harding was busy
changing engines in the New Or.
leans 60 that she could be flown 70
Washington the next morning. Hun
dreds OF people came out from Bal.
timore 20 watch him n nearly all
Ell. ;he Girls asked Smiling Jack
for permission 20 inacrlbe their
MINES on his planes tail surface.
September Z had been set aside as
Defense day. and as Il would only
mean n delay CT two additional days
Gen. Patrick ordered the world fly-
ers to remain over and take part in
the national defense demonstration.
While they were waiting the airmen
were entertained by the general and
made official calls nj the white
House and at the office Of Gen. Per-
shing.
Meanwhile hundreds OF kilograms
nad cables OF congratulations YER