THE WORLD FLYERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1931, Page 7

THE WORLD FLYERS

RETURN TO jStEW YOEK

ROYAL WELCOME

(Received 3rd July, 1 p.m.) NEW YOEK, 2nd July. Wiley Post and Harold Gatty completed their aerial circumnavigation of the globe in 8 days 15 hours'sl minutes, with an actual flying time of i days 10 hours 8 minutes. On their,landing on" AVednesday evening at Roosevelt Field, polico lines gave way as the airmen were en route from their 'plane to tho administration building, and excitement ruled supreme. There were numerous fist fights as the police, with their night sticks, attempted to force a way for the airmen, who finally got away from the crowd in a car with a polico motor-cycle escort. Millions on Thursday gavo to the two tired men the spectacular sort, of welcome reserved for spectacular guests. Post and Gatty found New York at its noisiest at the peak of enthusiasm. Perched on cushions in an automobile they made a circuit of the city, which was probably only less exciting than the flight itself. There was tho usual cheering, the sirens, tickertape, torn newspapers tossed from windows in the financial district. Before the flyers were out of their bods at 9.30 a.m. u crowd collected around, the doors of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. AVhen they appeared in the lobbyy remarking that they had slept fine, they were applauded by the guests* Outside two thousand more set np cheers when they crossed the sidewalk to the automobile. Tho police rushed back those attempting to close in. The flyers, though refreshed, still showed traces of weariness. Traffic in 45th and 46th streets, and for several blocks in Fifth and Madison avenues \vas almost at a standstill. It required twelve motor-cycle patrolmen, with sirens blowing, to clear a lane across! tho town to tho North River, where! the party boarded the City tug Maeon! for a trip to the Battery. . ; The flyers rode.in the first car, followed by an automobile carrying Mrs.; Post and Mrs. Gatty and lnenibei-s of the reception committee. Behind for blocks wore, automobiles carrying newspapermen and photographers. At the foot of 44th street and along the North River another crowd gave an ovation, the dockworkers suspending work. The party arrived at City Hall by way of Lower Broadway, where a heavy downpour of ticker tape showed progress. Crowds jammed the park front of the City Hall, and threatened to become unmanageable. Two hundred cheering admirers broke from.the polico and' started for the main doors of the City Hall. Patrolmen got them back. The flyers rode in open touring cars on top of folded hoods bare-headed. The Mayor, Mr. James AValker, welcomed them. A Mayor's luncheon, at the Ritz-Carlton followed the ceremonies.