The Detroit times., 1910-06-13
TRAVELS FROM N. Y. TO
PHILADELPHIA IN AIRSHIP


Hamilton. Il guess ltb time was 10
livering the goods"
| Drawing a packet from an inside
pocket. he gave the governor a letter
from Gov. Hughes Of New York. He
also carried greetings TO the Public
Ledger from the New York Times un-
der whose auspices the fight was
made.
| After a big Gordon OF police had
been placed about the aeroplane,
Hamilton was hurried into an auto
mobile and rushed TO the Bellevue
Stratford. where luncheon was served.
| The first view OF the aeroplane
which the crowd on aviation field had.
was when II was above Frankford
Junction. II seemed to be quivering
In the air. swooping upward and
downwards at dips of thirty TO fifty
feet When Hamilton reached the
landing place he was In an altitude OF
about 500 feet. Apparently making
observations for landing, he suddenly
swerved from his course and began
to circle the field, with each circle
| lowering the aeroplane many feet.
Starting on one OF the most ambi-
tious aeroplane trips ever attempted,
Charles X. Hamilton left Governor 6
Island In upper New York Bay for
Philadelphia aud return at 1888 this
morning. AS he few across the upper
bay and headed straight over the New
Jersey meadows which separate New
| York and Elizabeth, he was flying
about 500 feet In the air and running
nearly a mile minute.
Hamilton made his first essay in his
l Qf ~ 4. httt hG-
fore he could get into the air his pro-
peller struck big log hidden in the
sands on Governors Island and was
shattered The mishap did not bother
Hamilton much as he took his dam
Gged apparatus and at once attached
the propeller which Curtiss used in
mis- flight from Albany to New York.
At 1882 he cut his engine In for a
test and at 1886 he took the air for
q circling trial flight, finally heading
southwestwsrd two minutes later.
Hamilton crossed the sea wall at the
island at an altitude Of between 450
and 500 feet and as he took the win,i
from the bay re headed his machine
up into the air.
The star was made under the most
propitious weather conditions posi-
BILE. Not breath OF air was stirring
and the sun was hidden in the clouds
which, however, did not seem to pre-
sage rain.
Hamilton spent the night on Gov
ernor's Island as the guest of Lieut.
". A. Gilmore, aide to Gen. Waltor
Howe, commander of the department
of the east He rose at daybreak and
went to his tent, in which his little
Curtiss flyer was housed. Hamilton
had sent his own machinists to Phil
adelphia to be ready to rush repairs
there II necessary, and Glenn H. Cur
.iss had placed his staff at Hamilton's
disposal. Together they went over
the biplane, testing every wire snd
bolt. The engine was thoroughly oil
ed ard allowed to run for several min
utes to test its working capacity.
Hamilton expressed himself as thor
oushly satisfied. He was jubilap,
over the weather conditions.
400 Persons See Flight.
The first boat from New York. the
government tug Gen. Hancock. reach
ed the island at 6:55. bringing over
about 400 persons to witness the
flight. When they reached the great
sand dune. Hamilton was tinkering at
his machine. He was Immediately
joined by Glenn Curtiss and Jerome
Fanciulli. Curtiss' business manager.
Curtiss took of his raincoat and
spent several minutes going over the
machine.
Hamilton placed about his waist a
life preserver from one of the govern
ment tugs. This was the only precau-
ton he took In the event Of falling In
to the bay. Over the preserver he
wore an oil-soaked, mud-bedraggled
oilskin coat. His legs were encased
In pair Of riding puttees He wore
no hat and his shock Of red hair fairly
glistened In the sunshine.
There was no. preliminary "fussing"
before the start. Hamilton merely
started his propeller to whirling at
705, only Ave minutes after the time
scheduled for the start.
We've got Ii down to a fine point
when we can arrange our program a
week in advance" he said to Curtiss
and the famous inventor agreed. Ham
ilton allowed his engine to run for
! several minutes Then he took his
place In the drivers seat and called
Letter 60" The flyer sped along for
100 yards, its wheels cutting deep In
to the soft wet sand. Just as he
turned his inclining planes upward,
for the flight. the machine passed over
a long branch OF tree buried In the
sand. The wood few up and struck
the flying propeller. breaking a large
chip from one blade. Hamilton did
not notice the mishap. but spectators
sprang in front OF the machine and
! waved him down. The aviator shut
of his power and futtered to the
ground.
Hamilton hurriedly examined the
broken blade and called Curtiss In
twinkling a mechanic was speeding
across the sand to the tent.
IL Quickly Repaired.
"Oh hell" was Hamiltons only
audible comment as he began un-
screwing the broken propeller with
the assistance of Curtiss. They had
Il removed by the time the mechanic
returned with another propeller. II
was a wonderfully contrived blade OF
ten pieces OF wood, splendidly glued
together, the same propeller that had
driven Curtiss' machine when he few
from Albany to New York last month.
In Just 20 minutes the new blade was
In Mace Hamilton spent the time