Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-19

copyright, 1880, by The Associated Newspapers)
In the manner of Mr.. Russell Owen, its correspondent.
Somewhere off New York: Well, we took of today
on the greatest Of our adventures, the most trying ex-
plot of the expedition-the long scheduled flight
over an American Reception Committed It gives
every promise Of being the most narrowing ordeal SO
far. and Of putting the fibre Of every man to the
test. but we are al resolved to grit our teeth and 90
through with 1t, come what may.
1 wish you could have seen the faces Of our boys
as they got up this morning and prepared for this
grim exploit. They looked glum, but determined. You
could see there would be no flinching. Commander
Byrd went about slapping US on the backs and saying:
W can stand anything now. boysl" II made us feel
a lot better.
Nothing has been overlooked by the Commander
to guard against unnecessary suffering. At sunup he
went among the boys passing out extra heavy ear
laps SO we may avoid most Of the welcome home
speeches. Some of the fellows are carrying a supply
Of cotton. which they will stuff in their ears if they
sit close to the speakers tables at the many ban
quets. The hazard is expected to be extremely high
here. Every man was also given a ration Of wrist oil
to make the handwriting ordeal more endurable. One
Berndt Balchen, clever boy, has made himself an art
ificial forearm out of walrus bone. He will use this
for all greetings, he says. What an original fellow he
Isl
Each man also got a two-days' supply OF headache
powders and f~our-days' allotment Of bicarbonate Of
soda and pepsin-blsmuth in anticipation Of the usual
banquet food. The Commander says he has no rea-
son to think the chicken will be any more d~igestible
than usual.
There has been a lot Of joking about the banquets,
Lars Peterson-good old Lars-bringing many a roar
when he said, "One hardship we didn't have to stand
for in the Antarctic was worrying over the right
fork" Lars IS SO funny when he is in his best mood.
Later A little after daylight Commander Byrd
gripped the hand Of each Of our brave boys. No word
was necessary. We knew We were in for it as word had
come that our reception was to be made the greatest
ever. We are considerably worried about the dogs.
How will they take a reception committee? They
have never seen SO many sack coats and there is no
telling how they will react TO Jimmy Walkers spats.
The keeper Of the dogs went about them all yesterday
wearing spats in the hope Of getting them accustom-
ed to them. but they were pretty ugly.
Well, we are off. We took off at tbs. There is a
heavy mist, but it is as nothing compared TO what
we will have to face when the reception committee
begins speaking. Commander Byrd, Balchen, McKin-
ley and I are leading in a big g~as-proof plane.
We are now gaining altitude. Soon we shall be able
to discern the silk hats of the reception committee.
We are now up 10000 feet. We ought to be over Grover
Whalen soon.
Mckinley has Just sighted the peaks OF Grover
Whalen. 1t IS very imposing. 1 wish you would see Mr..
Whalen from aloft. Mighty, majestic, magnificent
We are all too moved to say anything.
Now we are approaching Mayor Walker, a little to
the westward Of where last reported. He appears to
be drifting in the moving ice.
We are now over Manhattan Island. Great black
low-hanging clouds obscure the view. They are be-
lieved to be due to graft inquiries and indictment
proceedings.
Now we are coming down. We are to make a land
ing directly In front Of the Mayors reception commit
t. We might as well do it now and get it over
with says the Commander. Tears come to our eyes.
But we know he knows best.