Batteries of cameras had ceased clicking and the last flashlight had done its part in filling the room with clouds of smoke. The three Bremen flyers, Baron von Huenefeld, Captain Koehl, and Major Fitzmaurice, fought their way through cheering Bostonians and tangled folds of the banners of massed American legionaries from the Colonial Room of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday afternoon following the Hub's reception to the trio. The sole means of escape was by way of the hotel's rear kitchen elevator, where the besieged flyers, thinking themselves free from further annoyances, found a CRIMSON reporter who had slipped by the cordon of vigilant detectives.
"Eet geevs me great, great pleasure to make wis ze great American 'enemy' shake hend," laughed Captain Koehl, waving to the medal-bedecked flag-bearer of the Legion, and sighing with relief as the elevator doors slammed.
When the group had seated itself in Baron von Huenefeld's suite, the backer of the flight, acting as spokesman for his comrades, puffing nervously at his cigar and adjusting his monocle, replied to the reporter's questions.
"We do not, of course, imagine that our flight was more than a first tottering step toward establishing commercial transoceanic air service, but we did prove that a West-to-East flight was possible. We gained much valuable experience, however, especially concerning the magnetic fields over Labrador, where our compass responses were exceedingly eccentric."
More at ease, relaxing after the strenuous day, the Baron continued, speaking of the possibility of establishing lighter-than-air service between the two continents. "Just as electricity is superseding petrol and coal, so will the airplane outlast the Zeppelin. These craft are too unwieldy."
At this point the valet announced that the Baron's "smoking" was ready and that the party must rush to the next appointment.
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