LINDBERGH AT CROYDON

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 9

LINDBERGH AT CROYDON

STRUGGLE TO LAND

POLICE HAVE LIVELY TIME

(United Press Aisocution.—Copyright) LONDON, 29th May.

Not since aviation began hu such a gigantic crowd awaited an aviator as greeted Captain Lindbergh at Oroydon. Between 100,000 and 130,000 thronged the field. The hundreds of police and special officials were powerless to control the crowd. The barriers were broken down first at one point and then at another, the police rushing a danger zone and placing others ia order to preserve the barriers. Powerful motorcars were also used. Amidst the constant struggle and clamour, Lindbergh arrived-, but was forced to circle above the aerodrome time and again before landing, escorted by seven 'planes, when immediately the struggle with the police broke out anew. The barriers were trampled down and people madly rushed to the landing space. No sooner was the cordon reformed than it was broken again. ' In the meantime the monoplane, circling gracefully, suddenly descended to a cleared space, when there was an unrestrained rush to the machine, whereupon Lindbergh rose at an amazingly acute angle and again circled the field, but it was too dangerous to land. The police, however, finally triumphed, and Lindbergh landed gracefully. In the mad rush of the crowd women fainted and were trampled down. Lindbergh dared not leave the cockpit till a motor-car .ploughed its way to him. His first words were: "For God's sake save the machine." He was hauled into the car, which crawled its way to the reception room, which he reached in a state bordering on collapse. j CROWD FOILED BT RUBE. Officials made plea after plea, without success, and finally an amusing riise was adopted. A megaphone announced to the crowd: "We have got a badly injured woman here; let us get a motorcar through." The crowd opened a narrow lane, and the cheering wag hushed as the car passed, but the supposed woman on the floor was really Lindbergh, who thus was able to reach the American Embassy and his dinner. The police returned to rescue Sir Samuel Hoare (Air Minister) and the American Ambassador, who were helpless in- the centre of a crowd, which demanded that Lindbergh show himself on the balcony, promising not to mob him. Lindbergh appeared on the balcony and nvugaphoned his thanks for the tremendous reception. Lindbergh's journey to London was typical of the man. He flew 'as low as twenty feet now and again, swooping and causing considerable uneasiness to passing shipping} then, instead of following the recognised route, he came up the Thames Valley, taking London completely by surprise. The machine was slightly damaged by the crowd pressing against it. The escorting 'planes were unable to land. One which had exhausted Its petrol was forced to land some miles away an hour before Lindbergh arrived. A 'plane carrying four passengers crashed from a height of sixty feet. Two of the passengers were slightly injured.