Plentywood herald., 1928-10-04
GIVES CLOSEUP
OF NOTABLES
JOHN SIGVALDSON, VISITING II
BUTTE is RADIO OPERATOR
ON PRESIDENTS YACHT
Is In Navy and Was Aboard u. s. s..
Memphis Which Brought Llndbergh
, Back to America After His Famous
Flight from New York to Paris

John Sigvaldson, President CO0lidge's
radio operator on the presidential
yacht, Mayfiower, is visitor to Butte
where he Is the guest Of his brother,
Larus, express messenger. Mr.. Sigvald-
son has seen 12 years service In the
United States navy and will be retired
on three-quarters pay in another four
years despite the fact that he Is scarce
ly of middle age.
Sigvaldson was radio operator on the
Memphis which brought Lindbergh back
from Europe following his epoch making
flight to France.
II sweat blood on that trip" he said
There were three press men aboard and
Lindbergh couldn't move a hand or foot
without bringing forth from the writer's
reams Of copy. Such stuff as Lindbergh
advances to the prov OF the boat and
gazes dreamily into the. sea- 'Lindbergh
spoke to a sailor and smiled and Lind
bergh, having partaken OF his breakfast,
retires to his cabin was made the basis
of column stories.
Poor Lindbergh would doubtless have
suffered agonies at thoughts OF landing in
the United States If he knew all the slush
we were sending by radio concerning him.
He was about the most bashful, modest
boy for his age have ever seen.
Why Did He Cor
"One day when he was making his way
down the companion we looked after him
with a pitying expression on his face and
grunted, He's afraid OF women and he
doesn't drink wine. Now what In Sam
Hill did man like that fly to Paris forP'
well. anyway, we made record run as
to time, hitting up 27 knots an hour
CharhOrJr0 n
Henry off Chesapeake bay-and we sent
10000 words of messages to the news
papers while crossing the ocean.
I'VE had flock of camera men aboard.
They shot Lindbergh at every opportunity
and in almost every attitude. just be-
fore we reached the docks word came
from the publishers to the camera crew.
Be sure to get good close-ups when
Lindbergh and his mother greet each
other. 1t will be swell interest
stuff
He Cheated Them
THE camera men were chasing about
after that message like the proverbial hen
on hot griddle. Lindbergh didn't know
about the message they received but he
was able to draw a deduction. He may
have been bashful and modest but he
isn't dumb. Lindbergh, as the ship en-
tered the slips, entered his cabin. He
stayed there until his mother came
aboard and joined him behind closed
doors. The camera men were cheated.
Hotl If one of them had worn cellu-
loid collar 1t would have burst into
fame"
Sigvaldson has been radio man on the
Mayfower for the past 16 months 'Presi-
dent Coolidge is not radio FAM" he
ou vny ,fcy,
method of conveying messages but not
as an amusement. He is no dial twister.
1T has been his custom to come aboard
the yacht every Saturday night and drop
down the Potomac about so miles and
spend Sunday travelling back to Wash
ington. During the trip-during all trips
in fact, the president is in constant touch
with the White house.
The length of the Mayfower, from stem
to stern is 1926 feet: It's width is 55 feet.
1t contains a cooks galley full OF spot
less copper cooking utensils two bed
rooms for President and Mrs. Coolidge,
five guest bedrooms and one room for q
secret service man. The boat was built
back in 1897 for Ogden Goelet. 1t was
taken over by the federal government
during the Spanish American war and
later converted into presidential yacht.
Describes Boat
mo one may come aboard the May
flower at any time except by express per-
OF the president or by reason of
an Introductory letter from a senator,
congressman or a cabinet member. The
boat, which is always in the spick and
span condition demanded under naval
has speed Of is knots or
about II miles per hour"
Sigvaldson is lover OF Montana. A
descendant Of Icelanders and a native of
the east, he spends his 30-day furlough
each year In this state. II come to catch
mountain trout" he said. II like all the
streams around Butte but the Big Hole
has been least kind to me-"
He went on to explain how the Big
Hole fish had scorned his dry fly his wet
fly and his worms, showing that he, too
had wasted his time on the school of lazy
suckers at the old Divide bridge.
IT don't care for salt water fishing" he
said. There isn't much thrill to 1t
Catching trout Is the real sport. have
seen President Coolidge fish. Is it true
that the president uses only half worm
in the interest Of economy? That is q
question / must decline to answer. The
president is the head Of the navy, you
know"