Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-22
MOTHER Indy

Continued from page onel
for the rest needed to prepare for
the long hop Thursday.
Besides Mrs. LIncbergh other
members Of the official party were:
Mr. and Mrs. William 3. Stout, gen.
eral manager of the party and de-
signer Of the big plane that is max
ing the trip; Mr.. and Mrs. A. n.
LaJous, manager Of the assembling
plant at Mexico City; Harry Brooks,
pilot and Henry Russell, alternate
pilot; and ]. j. Donovan, Ford rep
r~esentative st San Antonio. The
latter accompanied the party here
from bis home city, but did not ac-
company them into Mexico.
Welcome Extended
Jesse bennett presided at the din
ner as POSTMASTER, and made q
speech Of welcome 70 Mrs. Lind
bergh. In this talk he told the
visitor how proud Brownsville and
the Lower Rio Grande Valley is TO
have had the privilege Of entertain
ing her, and Of the important part
she is playing in the air history Of
this section.
Col. Johnston also spoke briefly,
as did a. q. Vasquez, and the talks
were responded to by Mrs. Lind
bergh- MIR. Stout told of how the
trip had been planned.
Possibility that the trip Thursday
will malt at Tampico in the event
that flying conditions are not good,
was expressed by Brooks, shortly
before the ship took the air Thurs
day morning.
Soldiers Guard Plane
Weather reports from Mexico in
dieated that the weather was cold
and windy between Tampico and the
capital, and in event of low-hang-
ing clouds and fog. the journey
from Iampico will be postponed un-
I'll Friday, the pilot stated.
"A special detail Of soldiers guard
ed the big ship during the night,
while II was being refueled and
overhauled. The pilot would not
trust the gasoline that could be OBJ
tanned here, and insisted that the
army supply be utilized to fuel the
plane. One hundred and twenty-five
gallons Of the flued was poured into
the gaping tanks Of the plane dur
ing th~enight.
Despite the smallness Of the field
81 Fort Brown, Brooks succeeded in
bringing the big ship down for a
perfect landing Wednesday after
noon, and was equally successful in
the take-off Thursday morning.
A crowd Of approximately 700 per-
sons braved the early morning cold
and wet to see the plane hop off here
early Thursday morning. The de-
parture was scheduled for 8 a. m,
and people began arriving at the
field as early as 1880 O'Clock. After
the ship took the air at S:24 cars
were continuing to arrive.
Brooks had anticipated no diff
Guilty In getting away from the field
despite the softness of the earth oe-
easioned by the recent rains, and
none was experienced. He had the
big ship IN the air in less than half
the length Of the flying field, and
Mrs. Lindberg's fluttering handker-
chief was barely visible as she waved
goodby when the plane passed over
the crowd that had come to honor her
departure.
She was brought 10 the landing
field in the machine Of Col. Johnston.
who with Mrs. Johnston accompanied
ner 10 the plane.
The big ship was an object of much
curiosity as the crowd waited for the
distinguished passenger "a arrive.
Many persons climbed in and made a
general inspection.
Other members Of the official party
reached the field a few minutes after
: o'clock, and acted as hosts at the
plane while waiting for Mrs. Lind
bergh. The latter entered her COM
partment. which had been decorated
with flowers, a very few minutes
before the take-off was made.
The pilot spent the time prior to
Mrs. LindberFh's arrival ct the field
IN testing the controls or his shin
and warming up the motor.