Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2019.001.141c |
Object Name |
Clipping, Newspaper |
Title |
Throngs in Streets Roar Their Tribute |
Collection |
Wiley Post Collection |
Scope & Content |
Newspaper article which discusses in detail the large, roarous crowd of spectators and the ticker-tape parade through which Wiley Post and Harold Gatty rode on their way to meet the New York City mayor to receive honors for completing their 1931 record-breaking world flight the previous day. |
Year Range from |
1931 |
Year Range to |
1931 |
Transcription |
Throngs In Streets Roar Their Tribute Broadway’s Ticker-Tape Storm Is Thickest Ever as Fliers Pass in Gala Parade. 10,000 Massed At Battery Military Units and Bands Escort Day’s Heroes and Noted Guests Through Noisy Tribute. New York’s citizenry, whose enthusiasm had been thought jaded by an ever-growing list of returning heroes of the air, belied any such lethargy Yesterday and turned out by the tens of thousands to pay tribute to the newest heroes, Wiley Post and Harold Gatty of the Winnie Mae. Only once before have returning fliers been greeted by such an outpouring of the populace. That was the occasion of the welcome to Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh upon his return from his New York-to-Paris flight. It was along the line of march of the fliers and their party from Pier A at the Battery, where they landed from the city’s welcoming yacht, the Macom, through the chasm of lower Broadway to City Hall, that the public massed in its thousands and enthusiastically roared its personal Greeting to the world girdlers. For profusion of ticker tape, the welcome to the two fliers never has been equaled. It surpassed even the paper deluge showered on Colonel Lindbergh. The fliers, their escort and the crowd equally were festooned with the strips of yellow, blue, and white paper cast down from the skyscrapers along the route of march. Although the parade was not sched- uled to leave the Battery until noon, the crowds began to gather hours earlier. By 11 o’clock there were 10,000 persons, including many mothers with their children, in Battery Park, and other thousands flanked the line of march. Some time before the Macom put in at the pier the marching units of the parade arrived on the scene, the Police and Fire Department bands, 100 mounted patrolmen, four companies of the Sixteenth United States Infantry, two companies of marines and two of bluejackets. When the Macom finally hove in sight amid the din of harbor craft, Escorted by fireboats playing a water salute and, overhead, by two Police Department planes, the paper shower was started from the windows of the Whitehall Building, which overlooks the Upper Bay. It was not until 12:07 P.M., twenty- Two minutes after the Macom had been warped into the pier, that the procession started on its march to City Hall. The delay served to allow the workers in the financial district time to leave their offices and join the street throngs. Twenty mounted patrolmen led the Parade, followed by the Police Band, the infantry, the marines, the sailors and, finally, the Fire Department Band. Then followed the first of the forty-odd motor cars in the procession. In it were Gatty and Post, Dr. John H. Finley, chairman of the Mayoral reception committee and Major William F. Deegan, also of the committee. The fliers sat bare- Headed, according to tradition on the top of the rear seat of the large open touring car. As the procession moved slowly up Broadway to City Hall they waved and smiled at the cheering thousands. In the second car were the fliers’ wives and in the third was Elinor Smith, aviatrix, and Margaret Irving, a friend of Mrs. Gatty. The remaining cars were filled with the members of the Mayor’s committee, including many famous fliers and invited guests. As the car on the rear seat of which the smiling globe-girdlers were perched moved slowly up Broadway it was greeted with a steady roar of applause from the crowd. Leaving City Hall after the official welcoming ceremony, the party dropped the marching units of the procession and proceeded swiftly, under motorcycle escort, to the Ritz- Carlton for the city’s luncheon to the fliers. Harbor Din Greets Airmen At Battery Macom Conveys Them From West 45th St. Pier Down the Hudson to Landing Place. The Mayor’s committee for the reception of distinguished guests called for Wiley Post and Harold Gatty immediately after breakfast yesterday at the Ritz Carlton. A crowd of at least 1,000 stood in Forty-sixth Street, where the municipal streamer Macom was waiting. At 10:50 A.M. the Macom started down the river to the Battery, so that the fliers might come up Broadway on the official path of glory to City Hall. Post and Gatty, with their wives and F.R. Hall, backer of their flight, chatted in the pilot house with Dr. John H. Finley, chairman of the Mayor’s committee, and with Elinor Smith, Clarence D. Chamberlain and other fliers and guests. A police launch running at each side and the fireboat James Duane served as escorts. Nearing Pier A, the fireboat John Purroy Mitchel joined the James Duane and shot up a curtain of water in salute; the siren of the Macom was tied down and about fifteen commercial tugs closed around with their whistles going full blast. The harbor reverberated. A paper snow began to flutter from the buildings overlooking Battery Park. Among those aboard the Macom were William Brock, veteran of a memorable world flight with Edward Schlee; Colonel John Foulois, commandant G.W. Simpson of the Brooklyn Navy Yard; Captain W.R. Sayles, representing Rear Admiral W.W. Phelps; Colonel John H. Howard, David M. Dow, official secretary in the United States for the Common- wealth of Australia; Miss Evelyn Wagner, secretary to Mayor Walker, niece of Senator Robert F. Wagner and hostess to the party; Peter J. Brady, Major Gen. George Haskell, George Mand, Dr. J.G.W. Greeff And Miss Margaret Irving, screen actress and friend of Mrs. Gatty. |
People |
Wiley Post Harold Gatty F. C. Hall Mae Post Elsie Gatty Charles Lindbergh |
Search Terms |
Ticker-Tape New York New York City Crowd Spectators Roarous Throngs Roar Praised Tribute Honor Mayor Storm Procession Parade Streets Din Fireboat World Flight Round-the-world |