The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-09-13
CHAPTER Xxx

When the first few arrived, l at
tempted to get them to hold the
rest of the crowd back, away from
the plane, but apparently no one
could understand, or would have
been able to conform to my re-
quest if he had.
I cut the switch to keep the
propeller from killing some one,
and attempted to organize an I'M
promptu guard for the plane. The
impossibility of any immediate or,
ganization became apparent and
when parts of the ship began to
crack from the pressure of the
multitude l decided to climb out
of the cockpit in order to draw the
crowd away.
Speaking was impossible; no
words could be heard in the up
roar and nobody apparently cared
to hear any. | started to climb
out of the cockpit, but as soon as
one foot appeared through the door
l was dragged the rest of the way
without assistance of my part.
For nearly half an hour I was
unable to touch the ground, dur
ing which time I was ardently car
ried around in what seemed to be
"a very small area, and in every
position it is possible to be in.
Every one had the best of inten-
tions but no one seemed to know
Just what they were.
The French military flyers very
resourcefuIy took the situation in
hand. A number of them mingled
with the crowd; then, at a given
signal, they placed my helmet on
an American correspondent and
cried: "Here is Lindberg." That
helmet on an American was suffic-
lent evidence. The correspondent
Immediately became the center of
attraction, and while he was being
taken protestingly ito the Reception
Committee via a rather devious
route, I managed to get inside one
of the hangers.
Meanwhile a second group of
soldiers and police had surrounded
the plane and soon placed it out
of danger in another hangar.
The French ability TO handle an
unusual situation with speed and
capability was remarkably demon
strated that night at LeBourget.
Ambassador Herrick extended
me AN invitation ito remain at his
Embassy while / was in Paris,
which I gladly accepted. But
grateful as I was at the time, it
did not take me long to realize
that a kind Providence had placed
me in Ambassador Herrick's hands.
The ensuing days found me in stu
atoms that had certainly never
expected to he in and in which I
relied on Ambassador Herrick' s
sympathetic aid.
These situations were brought
about by whole-hearted welcome
to mean American-that touched
me beyond any point that any
words can express. left France
with a dept of gratitude which,
though I cannot repay it, I shall
always remember. If the French
people had been acclaiming their
own gallant airmen, Nungesser and
Coli, who were lost only after fear
lessly departing in the face of
conditions insurmountably greater
than those that confronted me,
their enthusiastic welcome and
graciousness could not have been
greater.
In Belgium as well, I was re-
ceived with a warmth which re-
fiected more than simply passing
curiosity in transatlantic flight,
but which was rather IA demonstra-
ton by the people of their interest
in a new means of transportation
which eventually would bring still
closer together the new world and
the old. Their welcome, too, will
be cherished memory for all
time.
In England, I experienced one
final unforgettable demonstra-
ton of friendship for an American.
That spontaneous wonderful re-
ception during my brief visit
seemed typical of what I had al
ways heard of the good sportsman
ship of the English.
MY words to all those friends in
Europe are inadequate, but my
feelings of appreciation are bound
less.