The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-02

ing the two years of it's existence was to be returned to the treasury department.
 by design, for the manner in which the white plane sWopped down to New York gave spectators a glimpse of the terrific, hair-raising speed at which the Winnie Mae swept on her conquering way.
 Two minutes before the ship ap- peared over the field, it had been reported at the eastern end of Long Island. Then suddenly it appeared. Before startled newspaper men could dash to their wires to flash the news of its appearance, it flashed like a silver bullet, traveling-Post said afterwards-at about 190 miles an hour, directly over the hangers and into the east.
 | Post wheeled sharply and circled the field, still at his terrific bust of speed. A second circling of the ground gave him his direction, and an instant later he had cut off his motor. The descent was not made directly into the wind. Instead, Post eased the big ship into the landing area with a side-slip, whizzing roaring side-slip that made it ap- pear as though the Winnie Mae would hit the ground at 30-degree angle. But again he flattened out, and, far down the field, in the haze and dust, he came to a perfect land- ing.
 i The reception committee, fully 500 strong, what with it's accumulation | of gate crashers, moved down to l meet the plane as it's pilot swung it around and began taxing towards l the hanger. The Winnie Mae came to stop, a moment later, 500 yards from the main group of buildings, and the great crowd, creating pandemonium, surged against the police lines. For once, the lines held, and only the committee, official and unofficial, reached the plane. There was a momentary wait and then Posts head appeared over the cockpit, in response to an off1clals banging on the fuselage. He was grinning broadly, but apparently quite willing to remain in the plane as long as was necessary.
 Sore and stiffened, Post clambered clumsily down the steps, to fall into the arms of a squad of police who were attempting to clear a way for
 
 making a lane for Mrs Post pressed her forward, and her arms went about him.
 Darling, I am so glad, so glad" she said, but the words were lost in the tumult With tears streaming down her cheeks, she hugged him to her fo fully a minute, and then swung away, to give him to the wait ing multitudes.
 Meanwhile, for a. moment, but only for a moment, Gatty, still in his navigating cabin" had seeming Iy been forgotten. But the crowd yelled for him.
 "Where is Gatty? Where is Gatty?" They cried. Slowly the door on the other side of the cock pit opened, and a tired face ap- peared.
 Hes even too tired to smile" someone shouted, whereupon Gatty, almost dropping to the ground from fatigue, but buoyed up by two inn mense Nassau county policemen, put on his most cheerful smile, as though to disprove the statement. Slowly the two men, surrounded l by milling hundreds, made their way to the cement paths leading to | the hangars. Flares and flashlights | made the scene as light as day, and | the army of photographers kept up l a ceaseiess bombardment of them until they were swallowed up in l the hangar.
 At this point the main group of | the 10000 flying fans broke loose and swarmed around the doors. | Hundreds of them succeeded in | wedging themselves into the marrow l Stifino and Post and Gatty were nearly suffo- ] cated before they could reach the | microphones. There they answered briefly, but cheerfully, the questions put to them by Dr John H. Finley, , chairman of the mayors committee. 1 Yes, they were willing to go again. | No, they were not too tired. No, Gatty was not badly hurt by the propeller.
 And how long did it take you to make the trip around the world?"
 Post was hesitant. It appeared that he didn't know whether this was Tuesday or Wednesday. | Why" he said, lit took eight days and-er-well, less than nine days. I forget. I've been so busy l couldn't stop to figure it out" Again the broad grin appeared.
 Meanwhile, the adoring Mrs Post clung steadily to her husbands arm, unwilling to let him go, even for an | instant.
 After an extended-and gracious interview with the press, the flyers moved out to the waiting au- tcmobiles, parked in long official line in front of the hangar, to enter the cars in a renewed outburst Of bombs, flashlights and calcium
 flares.
 All returned travellers to the
 United States, heroes or not, must
 undergo certain formalities. Gus
 toms, for example. w. D. Mitchell
 representing the United States GUS.
 toms service, was on hand to find
 out whether they had brought ir
 any dutiable goods-just as though
 they had had time to go on exten-
 sive shopping tours in Europe.
 we haven't anything we didn't
 take with us," Post assured him ladding that there were some photo