Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12

4
" exciting and enjoyable experiences
I can ever hope to have.
During this flight visited % countries ana
three continents. Although had only 4O nouns
of flying experience when started the Trip
found that the obstacles to be surmounted were
o+ &C had as I had been led to believe they
might be: and if 1 had a few rather harIo"
ESCAPES came through them all right and got
back to my starting point more OF an en-
thusiast for aviation than ever before
So today with this world night In the pach-
Ground am looking forward TO new long
lance hops In the near future hope 10 ny 10
South America, cutting down the eastern sue
of the Atlantic to Dakar in Africa and crossing
the ocean thence to Brazil, continuing on down
the Brazilian coast to Rio de Janeiro. 40
not believe such flight would take more IMAM
six DAYS and while have not made any oennlUe
ARRANGEMENTS for 1t I believe that snail DC
able to make it in the not-too-distant future.
Meanwhile however, have still TO describe
the concluding phases of my world flight. In
many ways this was the best part OF the whole
flight, for it took me to the little Indiana CITY
where my mother was bona pilgrimage thaI
really was the underlying cause for the whole
fight.
RY THE time reached Toxic felt that the
end was in sight, even though I still had
to ship my plane across the Pacific and ny all
across the North American continent stayed
in Toxic for two weeks, resting and enjoying
the hospitality that the courteous japanese
showed me: then finally partially dismantled
my airplane, shipped it on the liner Empress
of Japan and sailed for Vancouver.
From Vancouver flew down the West Coast
of North America and then more troubles be-
gan. Flying down the West Coast is very diff
fcult owing to the fogs at that time OF the
year AS 1 was landing at Medford Oregr
bolt gave way in the undercarriage and my poor
little Blue Bird turned her back and was
seriously injured.
FOr rIIy+ etc
and instead of spending my Christmas, as had
hoped, in New Albany, Ind. my mothers home
town, 1 had to spend it in the hotel while
waited for repairs
I shipped my little plane back to Seattle to
the Boeing factory where they carried out the
repair work. and a splendid job they made OF
it. Two weeks later I set out for San Francisco,
reaching that town on the first day Of the new
year From there I few to Los Angeles and
then I had two days rest, prior to starting my
journey across the States.
set out from Los Angeles on January IL and
few an average of 500 miles day. rising at
dawn and flying till sunset and reached st.
Louis in five days From there few to Chi
cago and then I was about to accomplish what
had set out to do-land in Indiana and drop
an American flag my mothers town.
The good people in New Albany had been
Anxiously awaiting my arrival and had deco
rated the town with British and American
flags. Their enthusiasm great and 1t
cheered me more than can say.
AS 1 came down could see the waving peo-
pie and also found my mothers house, which
they had marked with a big cross that
could see it from the air. 1 landed at Louis
VILE KY, on the other side of the river, little
after noon and found good-sized crowd and a
Reception Committee awaiting me. As step
ped out of the plane Thelma Durbin, president
of the New Albany Girl Scout Leaders AsSocia-
ton, presented me with bouquet of American
Beauty roses.
THEN 1 was escorted to an automobile and
with a police motor cycle escort in front OF
us we sped to the river and crossed the bridge,
to be met on the New Albany side by another
police motor cycle escort and a Welcoming
Committee headed by Mayor McLinn Of New
Albany.
During my flight had been the recipient Of
welcoming addresses in a number Of cities. But
none of them touched my heart any more than
Mayor McLinn's did, when he said:
Lady Bruce you are at the gates of New
Albany. We proud to welcome you We
have never before had a great person who has
ridden the air and encircled the earth to visit
us, and we marveled at the spirit of love and
courage which has brought you to u.s.
You have had honor and praise in the great
cities of the world. We give you honor, but
give you also the kindly welcome of home folks
Of friends, who knew your mother and her
people and who would be friendly TO you.
I'VE have looked for your coming We want
you TO be one of us while you stay.
THE city of New Albany presents to you an
air photograph of our city with your mothers
birthplace marked Take it to her and may
II recall old memories for her and remind you
Of the little city which gave the mother, and
With open arms receives the daughter"
After concluding his speech the mayor gave
me the aerial photograph. took this back