The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-01
CHAPTER NINE

TINE rescue of Tom Armstrong
Il was the news sensation OF the
United State@of the world. There
were newspaper extras in every
land in every language.
The glory that was Commander
Halls was dinmed by the hectic
flashes of printers ink; it was al
most forgotten in the heralding OF
Tom Armstrong; triumphant home
ward march across the seas.
1t was too bad about poor old
Hall. He and Tom were the only
survivors of the Inflated expedition,
the only men found by the intrepid
pilot, who went from the base camp
to their rescue; and who had room
for only one man in his plane.
Hall had ordered his lieutenant
into the lone seat, declaring that he
would wait for the return of the
rescue plane. But the plane never
had returned. The gallant Lieut..
Wallace had made the trial and had
persisted in the attempt.
That was the last news the world
received from the base camp.
Storms had put the radio out Of
commission, or weather conditions
prevented the sending of messages.
The polar zone was a closed book
for the waiting public; but, with
Wallace down and Hall gone there
was nothing of interest in the I'M
known land of the South Pole.
The tribute of the world was
raised from the memory of the dead
to the presence of the living. The
adulation of the public in all coun-
tries was showered on Tom Arm
strong, as he neared his home city.
What were the thoughts of
Miriam Hall who shared with her
hero dead the sympathy of the
world. when news of her husbands
terrible end was flashed from the
end of the earth?
Messages of coincidence poured in
upon her from every quarter; her
immediate friends rendered the best
help they could. She was pro-
nounced a heroine for the stoicism
with which she bore up under the
awful disaster; true sailors wife
and sweetheart.
With dry eyes she read every
message that came out Of the sky;
devoured every line the newspapers
published. With Donald gone she
realized his greatness, and the
depth of the devotion to him which
had been once hers.
She still loved Tom, but the mem
DRY of Donald ever would be q shad-
ow on whatever happiness was in
store for both. She could not keep
back the question, though, which al
ways was on her lips:
why was Donald left there
alone?"
The long weary days when the
wireless from the Antarctic was ST.
lent, were trying days to the beauti-
full young widow. Moments of hope,
with flashes of happiness to come
were hers at news of the coming
of Tom, and of the preparations
which were being made for his re-
ception in Washington.
But there were nights of dis
traction over memories of Donald,
nights when she cried herself to
sleep, when she felt that great
part Of her being was forever buried
in the cold SHOWS at the earthS end.
= n
DUT the world danced on and the
ID air rang with the paeans Of JOY
at the return of the one survivor Of
the lost Zeppelin. The day came
when Washington celebrated the
arrival of Tom Armstrong, and the
rest of the world listened in and ap-
proved.
The streets and windows were
filled with throngs of admiring and
enthusiastic men and women. Bands
were playing, gaily uniformed men
were marching, newsies were shout
ing their extras; showers of con-
fetti and ticker tape momentarily
shut out the sun; the radio was an
nouncing the return of the conquer
ing hero.
Miriam was not in the crowds
that welcomed her lover; the one
person for sight Of whom his eyes
were ever alert, the only human
being who meant anything to him
at this, the greatest moment of his
life.
He had been in the hands of the
reception committee from the time
he landed in New York, which had
been the scene of his greatest ova-
ton up to that time. 1t had been
impossible to get i'm touch with her.
She had declined with sweet dig
nifty the deferential invitation to
participate in the Washington re-
ception. She sat near the radio in
her home and listened to the up
roar which greeted Tom as he was
driven through the parade in
gaily decorated automobile, attend
ed by high officers of the navy.
She heard the shouts, the cheers,
the music and the speeches. She