Evening star., 1928-10-16
LANDING RAISES
WRATH OF VISITORS
Red Tape and Guards Com
bine to Anger Zeppelin
Passengers.
BY the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
LAKEHURST, N. j.. october 16.-
Crossing the Atlantic in an airship is
not in itself particularly arduous ex-
perience. It's when you land that the
real work begins.
The passengers on the Graf Zeppelin
found out about this.
With indignant unanimity they said
as the big silver fish settled on the land
ing field that there wasn't a thing to
that story about their being airSick.
They were still aboard then, thinking
about cigarettes and good dinner, and
feeling clipper.
GriIled Five Hours.
Some five hours later they trailed
wearily out of the improvised customs
Office in the hangar, looking, not air.
sick, but landing sick"-and plenty.
THE crossing wasn't firing, it was
fun," moaned Lady Grace Drum
mond Hay, British journalist with a
At 5:38 pm. the Graf Zeppelin was
hauled down into mob of pushing,
clamoring, enthusiastic welcomerS at
the Naval Air Station. Lady Drum
mond Hay thought it was fun. She ap-
peared at the window, Smartly dressed
in black and white, gayly answering
questions shouted at her.
At 10:l5 pm, pale, hungry and tired,
she autographed the last postcard thrust
at her out of the mob. crept down a
back stairway and departed for New
York in motor car.
I'm hungry" she said-she almost
sobbed it.
so are we," cheerfully observed one
Of the girl reporters. We've been liv-
ing on nothing but ice cream for two
days waiting for you-"
Health Inspector First,
Haven't had any ice cream for a
long, long time" sighed Lady Grace
Hay Drummond Hay First of all, after
they landed, came the health inspector,
He had to get through the crowd. He
was late. 1t was well along toward
7:30 before he finished. No dinner was
served aboard the Graf Zeppelin last
night. Hadn't they been talking all
day about "eating dinner in New York
tonight?"
BY the time the doctor was through
with them the passengers aboard the
Graf Zeppelin-as they may inform
you week from tomorrow. an agree
ment they were required to sign for
bidding them to talk for publication
sooner-were thinking rather favorably
Of the ships cuisine.
But it wasn't dinner they got, 1t
was walk. Half a mile across the
landing field from the ship to the han
gar, through sand up to their ankles,
surrounded by a guard of energetic
young Marines who kept them going at
a dog trot.
Room Overcrowded.
No letters to assemble under; no,
nor any nice, COOL roomy dock. A
hot. stuffy, badly overcrowded room in
a corner of the hangar, with the Ma
rineS standing guard. Passengers on
liners can't be turned loose until the
customs men have gone through their
baggage, hence the Marine guard.
There were the distinguished visitors
In a room. There were the reporters
outside. Some times reporter got in.
Always he got out, too.
Among those outside looking in were
Lady Drummond Hays confreres in an
American news syndicate.
But Lady Drummond Hay wants to |
see me-" one of her American sisters in |
he syndicate kept saying over and over |
70 red-faced Navy petty officer.
Tell it to the Marnes," his express
sion said.
She did, but it didn't help.
Dismissed at 1918 PM.
It was 1918 before the last piece of |
luggage ge-including the leather case for |
silk hats brought over by one of the |
paSSengers-had been cleared.
Then the passengers were fed to the
photographers and the reporters
No, We didn't dance any," Lady
Drunmon Hay said. "You see, we
were getting up at o'clock every morn
ing to look at the view"
''The food was good. We had plenty
Of it. We were not air sick. Yes, used
to work on the London Express. No,
don't any more. No, I wasn't scared |
Yes, I'm glad to be here. No, it's not
my first trip to America. And haven't !
had any dinner
No. it isn't crossing on a Zeppelin
that's so tough; it's when you get |
there"
One week from tomorrow ask Lady
Grace Hay Drummond Hay of London,
England. She knows.