Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-10
ON
EAST JOURNEY
SETSNEW MARK
Eckener Goes Imme-
diately to Office For
Plans to Continue
Round World Trip

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany,
Aug. 10.-(P)-The transatlantic al
liner Graf Zeppelin after a record
breaking crossing Of the Atlantic On
the first leg Of her around the
world flight from Lakehurst, N. j.,
landed at Friedrichshafen at 1:03
d. m. C7:03 a. IN. K. S. T. today.
The huge ship made the crossing
in lust IS hours and "a minutes,
having picked up speed as she ap-
preached the coast Of Europe.
1t was DR.. Eckener's 6lst birth
day today and the amazing arrival
Of the Graf Zeppelin SO long be-
fore the time she had been expected
made the informal birthday cele-
bration aboard the ship just before
she landed all the more enthuSias-
tic.
The Grass time of 55 hours and
"a minutes on her eastward voyage
was about 40 hours better than her
westward journey TO Lakehurst ard
l3 hours and % minutes better than
her last voyage from Lakehurst to
Friedrichshafen in October, 1928.
Covered 1900 Miles
The Graf covered approximately
4,200 miles in the 55 hours an "a
minutes that she was in the air,
thus covering the entire distance at
an average Of rs miles an hour. a
brilliant performance in the opin-
ion of aviation experts.
BY half past one the Graf Zeppe-
lin had come to a full stop in her
hangar, having completed one Of
the smoothest landings it had made
after any big flight.
Customs officials stood at the
landing ship, waived all formalities
and by 1:35 p. m, the last two pas
sengers, Lady Grace Drummond
Hay and Karl III. Won Weigand, had
emerged.
All the passengers seemed in a
decidedly happy frame Of mind and
declared with one accord they had
q wonderful time.
Several, notably Nelson Morris of
Chicago. William Weber Of New
York, Nate Wexler of New York.
and Count Albrecht Montgelas Of
Berlin, could scarcely wait to re-
sumo smoking, prohibited through
out the journey. and emerged with
cigarettes in their mouths.
When Lady Hay stepped down
she was smiling and holding bou-
quet OF flowers from American
friends. The crowd, which up TO
then had been merely happy and
curious, broke into cheers.
DIR. Eckener Slips Away
The spectators hoped that DR..
ECkener would leave the snip at tue
head offices, but the baggage mas
ter in stentorian tones announced:
Don't look for DR.. Eckener: ne
has already slipped out through the
rear and is working on plans for
the next night in his office"
The crowd, somewhat unbelieving,
rushed 10 the rear OF the airShip.
but merely found the crew unload
ing a bull dog, an alligator and
other freight, all Of which appar-
emily arrived in good condition.
The passengers and their baggage
were whlSked away TO the kur-
garten hotel, all except Joachim
Rickar dof Boston. who remained at
the Zeppelin Works and imms-
diately consulted his attorney by
long distance telephone regarding
what steps 10 take in view Of hts
having 10 sign a silence pledge
which he said was against his Will.
DR.. Eckener, who hopes to take
off for Tokyo on the next lap of lis
world-girdllng flight, within a few
days, was not permitted TO stay al
his office long for Frau Eckener
gently but firmly led him into a
waiting automobile. Thousands OF
spectators had gathered outside .:
the gat~5 in the hope Of seeing him
so that far from escaping an ova-
ton he suddenly found himself sur
rounded by q cheering mob.