GIRL FLIER IN TEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 984, 29 May 1930, Page 11

GIRL FLIER IN TEARS

TERRIFIED AS CROWDS TURN POLICE ASIDE FLIGHT ACROSS AUSTRALIA United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.45 a.m. BRISBANE, Today. Terrified by the mob that rushed her upon landing at Charleville, worn out by the day's flying and dispirited by having lost her way, Miss Amy Johnson broke into tears when she reached her hotel last night. Sweeping the police and officials aside, the crowd rushed in a wild burst of enthusiasm. But Miss Johnson is afraid of one thing only, and that is a mob. She became hysterical and almost broke down on her airplane. She was too upset even to speak to her parents by wireless telephone. Miss Johnson left Longreach at 10.25 a.m., with the intention of staying the night at Roma, about 2SO miles from Brisbane. Special arrangements were made for her to broadcast a talk to the people of Australia from Roma. However, she landed instead at Charleville, 250 miles from Longreach and 440 miles from Brisbane. She had flown off her course and descended first at Quilpie, 130 miles west of Charleville. A fresh supply of fuel was procured at Quilpie and Miss Johnson took off

again and followed the railway line to Charleville, where she spent the night. The girl flier is due at Brisbane this afternoon. A wonderful welcome awaits her. FREE PASSAGE HOME The Earl of Inchcape, chairman of the P. and O. Company, has cabled to the Australian agents of the firm to offer Miss Johnson a free passage back to England in one of its liners. A message from Sydney says Miss Johnson landed at Charleville just after 6 p.m. She had become separated from her escorting airplane. She received a great ovation. Her broadcast talk, originally* fixed for Roma, was very brief. Messrs. Wakefield’s representative announced over the air at 9.40 p.m., that Miss Johnson had had a trying trip from Longreach. She landed at Charleville after dark and 20 motorists grouped their cars and the headlights flooded the landing ground. The girl made a perfect landing amid deafening cheers. Speaking for the broadcast. Miss Johnson said: “Hello, Australia. I am just going to bed. r am very tired. 1 will speak to you longer when I reach Brisbane. Good-night.”

TOO TIRED TO SPEAK Listeners in New Zealand were on the qui vive last evening, when the broadcasting station 2FC announced that Miss Johnson would speak over the air at 9 p.m. (New Zealand time). Later, it said that arrangements had had to be varied, as Miss Johnson would not land at Roma, but at Charleville, and that it would be 11 o'clock before she would speak. Shortly before this time, Wakefield’s representative announced from 4QG Brisbane, that Miss Johnson had not arrived at Charleville till after dark, and had had a very trying time. Motorcar headlights had been used to assist, the flier to land. She was very tired and would say only a few words. A few minutes later the cheery voice of the girl flier, showing little sign of tiredness, was heard: “Hello, Australia,” she said. “Just off to bed. I’m very tired. Good night.” Great enthusiasm is being shown in Brisbane over Miss Johnson’s expected arrival there today. The announcer at 4QG, Brisbane, last evening, said that special trams were to be run to the airdrome from Brisbane, and excursion trains at reduced fares would run from all parts of the district. Stations 4QG, Brisbane, 3LO Melbourne, and 2FC Sydney used rela,v lines to Charleville for the purpose of broadcasting Miss Johnson’s remarks, and as conditions for reception were excellent last evening, New Zealand listeners were able to select the stations they preferred.