The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-05

man named Charles A. Lindbergf rode up the same heroes highway which became Corrigan's glory-roae Il years later.
 And that other occasions with its tremendous, spontaneous anc unforgettable outpouring of mass hero-Worship - was repeated anc reflected in this one. For had there been no Lind bergh there would have been nc Corrigan. Back in 1926, when he was a mechanic in a San Diego air. plane shop, Corrigan helped to as- semble "The Spirit of St. Louis" ir which Lindbergh flew to Paris. Ever since, Corrigan has had but one dream - to be like Lindbergh. To- day he said: COrrigan Praises "Lindy"
 "Lindbergh is not only the great est flyer, he is the greatest man in the world. I wouldn't be here and this wouldn't be happening if 1t weren't for him."
 It was a question which New York refused to argue. The greatest man of the day, at least, was Douglas Corrigan, and there was none to dispute it.
 For the 120-pound Corrigan, the gigantic and occasionally hysterica1 reception was overwhelming. There were times when the customarily cocky little man in the brown leather jacket looked lonely and forlorn. There were times when the twinkle in his Irish eyes may have been caused by suddenly start ing tears.
 But those moments were few and of brief duration.
 If all my mistakes turn out like this one," he said, "I'll be lucky guy"
 Biggest Day of His Life
 Corr1gan prepared for the biggest day of his life by getting his long, est sleep of weeks at the Hotel McAlpin. He slept until g a. m. and awoke to find hot, sticky day out side his windows.
 Outside his door on the 10th floor the flyer found 10 Irish policemen on guard and, stretched along the corridor, huge welcome Corrigan' banner colored with the green o1 Fire and the orange of Ulster. Breaks One Habit Corrigan broke his mo breakfast habit and slipped glass of orange juice before departing for the Bat. tery and the start of his parade through the canyon of lower Broad way to city hall.
 Clad in 8 new blue shirt which had been given him in Dublin, g pair of gray s.>cks, not new, anc the zipper jacket which he wore during his 28-hour flight, Corrigar rode to the Battery in a small oper car escorted by six motorcycle pa- trolmen.
 His lean, peaked face illuminated by the grin which made all Ireland his from the time he landed al Baldonnel field on July IT, the flyer approached the climax of his home coming as brashly as he had chal- lenged the Atlantic.
 I'm just taking 1t as 1t comes, he said.
 From the Battery to City Hal multiplied thousands leaned from windows and damned the sidewalks to see the man who had for time cut free from the earth to which they were bound.
 Came Back In Fog
 Corrigan came back in fog last night aboard the liner Manhattan Airplanes and ships met him in the harbor with din of roaring motors and screeching whistles that all but drowned out the cheers of the Irish who lined the shore from the Bat tery to the ships berth, half the length of Manhattan Island.
 One boat carried 166 Corrigans: another banner saying that 1t had aboard "The Celtic Circle of Sheepshead Bay and Flatbush". The of1cial reception committee, headed by Stanley Howe, Mayor F. H. La Guardia's secretary, pursued the Manhattan to the dock and took custody of the 3l-year-old hero