Evening star., 1928-01-08
SKINS
JUNGLE FOR MILES
Clouds Force Flyer Down to
Treetops-To Leave for
Panama Tomorrow.

RY COL. CHARLES 4. LlNDBERGH.
BY Tropical Wireless
SAN JOSE. Costa Rica. January :.
My flight today from Managua to
San Jose. capital of Costa Rica. was
over some of the most interesting te"'
ritory I have visited in the course Of
this Central American journey.
/ left Managua at 1e:45 this morn
ing, circling the city and then setting
off In a direct line for San Jose. Al
the start I had strong cross winds and
some clouds. My course took me di
rectly across Lake Nicaragua.
After Is miles over water / passed
an island below which | identified az
Zspatera, volcanic formation. Next
| passed Ometepe Island. containing
two large volcanoes whose tops were
obscured by white clouds. After pass.
ing this point I encountered more and
more clouds. The ceiling became low
and the visibility was likewise bad.
After leaving Ometepe Island l con-
tinued 30 miles more over the water
Until reaching that point had flown
at an altitude averaging $500 feet
but because OF the clouds I descended
TO l,ae0.,
Runs Into Clouds.
On reaching the southern shore of
Lake Nicaragua | found 1t obscured
by low rain clouds. making IL ncces
Sary for me to fly at maximum
height OF 2aD feet. 1t was, raining
steadily and hard
The territory ! passed over for the
next IS miles consisted for the msot
part of swamp. Here, due to the
low rain clouds. I was obliged practi.
cally to skim the tree tops.
| was not worried however. for
knew that in case Of necessity. l conltd
climb up through the clouds ard
either fly back 10 clear wea theFf0T
continue on my course. navigating BY
Instruments.
I did not regret the necessity NJ
flying low. however, for | was thus
enabled to obtain a very good view of
the tropical foliage. including the pal
metto. mango and many other types
OF tropical growth with which | was
not acquainted.
Was close enough 10 the ground
TO observe orchids of all colsrx ha & :.
ing in the trees.
IL During this stretch, which lasted
for about IS miles and was over the
Province OF AlajueIa, ! also had the
opportunity 10 observe hundreds of
varieties OF tropical birds Of many. and
various coiors.' Some We're Il bright
green and very small. while others
few along In fiocks. their bright
piunage standing out distinctly.
Landing Dangerous.
The most striking Of. all we're some
birds OF brilliant red weiiow and
! blne~-red beads and breasts, yellow
rings on the front Of their wlnss
| with most Of the wings blue. and red
| tail feathers. streaming out n foot or
foot and half There were also
xonae large black birds with white
/ spot on their backs.
| In passing. II might be pointed out
that a forced landing IN this territory
would be extremely dangerous. tirEt
/ because nj k,Ich low attitude. IL
would he practically Impossible 10
I choose place 10 crash In and seu
/ ond. because the entire territory is n
dense swamp of 4 type wtiirh would
make progress afoot impossible.
/ / passed over river SO feet wide
shet*. ] observed y native dusoni
| made of log. ii was drawn up of,
the short. bui there were no other
! signs of human life.
-
! could observe nobody. Passing ii.e
! second river. | saw "a small native
hot. but again there Mas 40 sign OF 4
! living person.
! The strong gross winds bnd by not
! diss pIsearssi After passing the s.'e,
snd river, varied my course Ia The
I South in order - he sure of sighting
] he river 10 the vest of gan Jose u.
"a landmark.
! Sees small Farms.
/ THE elevation of the sIa.und rose
| steadily from here on and here and
! there. booking 0ut Of the window at
! he side ~ he ship. ] observed euHtI
! cultivated areas. A. ! appr0ached
! The mountains u @5s necessary IN
f. circle 1p through an opening In The
! clouds which covered fnost 0f tbs
! mountain sides,
| After spiraiing around 10 an aiii-
! iude of z ,Gag feet, | was able 10 cross
/ 1grf the UDuHtains ana dip dawn
| into the valley. where found myself
over The LWu of Ala ltiela
San J9ke ~as clearly visible ~ a
djsianre of ID miIes Arriving opei
,he hsid ~ 50 o'.i0fk raw n
! barge ffpNd and fearing thai they
might t,ish the plane. I dfonpiat u note
/ written on HYinR rhgu asking ibai
the sfa~d bs gaa9sd hnek
had ciFcied ibe lieil several lines
li,y then nd waK bie. while waiting
~ get further view u tbR country
Whisb ~ aiirhetlsf
gan josf Iies ia IN. center 0f 4
valley formed by meuniains whielt
lanpegr bibe yeitoW BBd green .de
| pending ~ The "hafneier ~ liie
/ Ysgsiatlnn The field ts hsif u miie
from the towB nDd one kiioi1ftst
bong II ~ one Df thn best fields n
/ Central America. bHt the crowd ~
tended on both sides snd across eps
end
cpOs~sd he feid hYiag ioa iht,f
tunes, ard could sea ihs hands IN la
fpFms playing and The uettilf WA tiq4
iheif bats and Hapg, I waited f',t
he police ~ move baek iba crowd
i,i1t ashile they ,unpsd bark RhH
distance, they SEEMED determined q
retiajn oipse about The edge Df itis
field,
Etaaiis TAHeiss Hrasud,
Finally II seemed iHG aI9Nd ~ai
tDWInK ititH guietfi s1l riffle'
iis field lAsias ul.,l = Hfid then flfsrtiaef
! ss4in tbe Wssa 1.ld dpAn ~ alpWnst
ns'ely ihs midiffA NJ tbs field
VI Ax