The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-22
CROSSES SOUND
IN HIS B|.PL.A ! 4 I. /.
Clifford Harmon Makes Flight
and Wins $4,000
Trophy.
HIS MACHINE I'M ED
---- ------ -----------s. +,
Trip Is Made BY Way Of Larch-
mont, a Distance Of
20 Miles.
lis MAC HlNE In JEuTR. ED

mont, Distance of
28 Miles.
New York, August 21.-Clifford B.
Harmon made his long promised fight
across the Sound last night. lie start
ed from the aviation field at Garden
City about s:35 o'clock. Thirty min
gutes later he landed in Greenwich,
Conn, In field next to the estate OF
his father-in-1aw, Commodore p. G.
Benedict.
Mr. Harmon was unhurt, but his ma
chine, Farman biplane, was dam
aged. The flight wins for Mr.. Harmon
the $4,000 trophy offered by Country
Life in America for the first success
full airship trip across the Sound. The
distance in bee-line Is about seven
teen miles, but going around by Larch-
mont Increased the distance to twenty
eight miles. That was Mr. Morgan's
estimate.
According to the official timekeeper.
j. Parke Charming. from the Aero
Club OF America. Mr.. Harmon left the
field at $4,000. Before starting on his
trip across the Sound he made a flight
with Charles K. Hamilton as passenger
10 test OUT Ills SAlASA W o1AuJ
the air conditions.
After making six laps he landed and
announced that he would start out to
win the trophy The preparations
were made without much fuss, and
| few outside the officials In charge,
knew that he had decided to make tho
| trip. He sent across to his tent for
his life-belt and was assisted in put.
ting it on by Hamilton and Tod
lShriver. who has just Invented an
aeroplane. The machine was not pro-
ltected by pontoons, but Instead had a
projection on either skid, and large
coil OF rubber was placed under the
seat.
Mr. Harmon arrived at the field early
In the morning, and at IL o'clock, ac-
air man, made a survey of the course
over which he was to fly. He returned
to the field at 8 o'clock and waited
| for favorable weather.
| Wanted 1t cover"
Just before the machine was rolled
| from the tent he called up Mrs. Har-
mon to inquire II there was q breeze
on the Connecticut side. She assured
him that 1t was alright there. and
said. go on and have 1t over
He told her the weather was ideal
at the flying field. and he felt the trip
could be made without any trouble
Then he hurried to his tent and put
on his flying toggery. In Jest he In
senger, and Hamilton said. alright"
..Ill take you for a ride anyway" said
Harmon. because I want to make a
good test OF my motor" Hamilton ac-
cepted, and after that trip the de-
| scent was made In the centre Of the
| field, where the start could be made
| without the interference Of big
| crowd Harm on rose about twenty feet
land flew north, circled east and then
yeercd to the west, increasing his alti-
| tude to 100 or $50 feet.
| The smoke from a field fire caused
lin to fly still higher, and rs he passed
over Mineola he had reached an alti-
.ltude of about 400 feet. Then he dropped
4 lower, and when he disappeared was
i about thirty feet above the treetops.
AT least six automobiles had started
/ In pursuit, but the fier had got so far
ahead that by the time Roslyn Valley
/ was reached he was lost among the
trees,
There was great excitement as the
autos dashed along at high speed. and
4 the inhabitants along the way ran out
4 to volunteer Information. Every wo-
j man, man and child had seen him, but
4 no two agreed as to height he was
flying. ItIvaried from 200 to 500 feet.
\ 1t was said that he was about 500 feet
5liup when he started over the Sound ut
! Hampstead Harbor.
Il Cord Meyer, Jr.. who was following
Il the fier In siXty-horse-power ma
i chine, was arrested for speeding about
4 a nile from Roslyn. Nobody took much
Interest in what happened to him.
Il Nalter Fnirchilds and two other aero
4 plane fans were In the car with him.
When Philip Wilcox, who was In one
4 CT the automobiles, reached Hampstead
4 Harbor and found out by telephone
j that Harmon had landed, he felt elated,
because he had Entrusted Harmon with
his mascot, q meteorite. which had been
Ipresented to him after his accident Fri.
day.
The landing at Greenwich was made
lat87:05 O. clock. Mrs. Harmon, who had
witnessed the arrival from her fathers
/ porch at Indian Harbor, hurried In
ltroundabout road, a mile&in length. and
was the only one to greet him He
ithen vas Whisked away to Indian Har-
4 bor,, and q half hour later was ready
for dinner. receiving the congratula-
Itions of guests
Harinon's Story.
Mr.. Harmon had this to say Of his
trip:
1T left the aviation field at Garder
City at 6:35 this evening King Hamil-
i ton up with me for a half dozen flights
around the field so as to enable him
to take some photos. The engine was
working so beautifully that decided
to go on across the Sound, leaving
Hamilton at Garden City. wore Il
4 leather coat. trousers. goggles, a life
bolt and low shoes with strings united
Il so that could kick them Off II I tac
A to swim The wind was aft and blow
4 ing about fifteen miles an hour, in.
J creasing during the hight to twenty
4 Tive miles. In the fight Of six miles
u.s. ~