Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-12
POTOMAC SCENE OF BRILLIANT
SPECTACLE WELCOMING FLYER

closely as possible to the riggings OF
the Memphis. Lindbergh watched
with eager interest. His own. the
Spirit of ST. Louis. which had carried
him alone across the wide Atlantic to
France and glory, was safely packed
in boxes on board the Memphis, and
he was to prepare soon to get in his
beloved ship again. He appeared
moro interested in the aviation fea
lures of the welcome than anything
else.
The Navy transport Porpoise. with
a load of officials and news representa-
tjves. came alongside end followed the
ship on To the Navy Yard.
The first band from Washington to
greet Lindbergh had come into sight
near Alexandria, from the Vincent B.
Costello Post of the American Legion.
Former Col. William Mitchell. who
resigned from the Army after his SEN
satypnal set'to with the administration,
who is commander of the post, was on
hand in a small cabin cruiser along
with the band of his post on another
vessel. Mitchell appeared not only
deeply interested, bat elated at the ex-
element of the occasion, and took
many pictures with a motion picture
camera.
Memphis Slows Pace.
AS Lindbergh came nearer and
nearer Hains Point the Memphis slow
ed her pace and proceeded through
what was now a veritable lane of Ves'
sells of all sorts, shapes and descrip'
tons. Sleek mahogany yachts, small
fishing boats, rowboats, canoes, and a
great variety of nondescript craft had
lined up along each side of the chan
mel to do honor to the homecoming
American and get a good view of him
from the water.
Anchored alongside of Hams Point
was the Coast Guard cutter Apache,
with Comdr. Chester A. Jones aboard.
in command of the Coast Guard fleet
in Potomac waters for the occasion.
Comdr. Jones was in communication
with his fleet by wireless.
Dressed in a neat blue suit and
with his brown hair neatly combed,
the young hero took in every corner
of the brilliant panorama that
stretched out before his eye.
His manner as he moved about on
the bridge to wave a friendly reply to
the shouting crowd all about him indi.
Gated that he was as calm as any
young man could be expected to feel
returning to his native land under
such suspicious circumstances and
with such pomp and ceremony.
Waves to Alexandria.
The Alexandria fire engines were
out on the wharVes with sirens shrek
ing above the cheers of the populace.
Lindbergh waved an unaffected and
sincere response as he saw Alexan-
dria's turnout.
Overhead the dirigible Los Angeles
sailed gracefully along in the path of
the Memphis, and half hundred air.
planes swarmed down from the Ma
tional Capital and began circling
above the cruiser.
Leaving Alexandria behind it, the
Memphis swung into sight of Wash
ington, and Lindbergh, still standing
on the bridge with Vice Admiral Bur
rage, beheld the dome of the Capitol
and the lofty peak of the Washington
Monument rising above the skyline.
The edge of the channel from this
point to the War College was dotted
with small boats, signaling their greet
ings with blasts of the whistles as
the cruiser passed. To even the
smallest of these cheering parties
waved his arm in response.
Changes His Suit.
For a mile or two the Memphis
passed between the quiet banks of the
river with only the Los Angeles and
the airplanes roaring overhead. Lind
bergh had been wearing gray suit,
and during this lull in the welcome
along the river, he left the bridge
and went below. Just as the vessel
reached the Naval Experimental Lab
oratory on the Maryland shore, how
ever, he reappeared on the bridge in
a dark blue suit, his hair neatly part
ed and the ever-present smile visible