The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-14
HAMILTON ALWAYS
4 DARING AVIATOR
Made Many AscensiOns in
Balloons and Dirigibles.

New York, June 13.-Charles K Bamil-
ton was born in Connecticut twenty-nins
years ago. He is said tc have started
on his air-skipping career at the age OF
eight by attempting a flight from the
roof Of a barn, using his mothers best
parasol as a parachute. He next invent
ed a kite. which carried him leo feet in
the air and nearly paralyzed his parents
with fright.
In 1866 Hamilton made ascensions in
the California Arrow. a dirigible balloon
invented by Capt Thomas $. Baldwin
One OF his most exciting experiences
was with this air ship. He was billed for
an ascension at Paterson. n J. Right
after he had left the ground he lost his
ballast. and the balloon shot UP TO an
altitude Of 500 feet, and continued TO
soar. Hamilton struggled with the valve
cord, which failed to respond. He had
found It easy TO get up. but how TO come
down was giving the aeronaut consider
able erouble.
Has a Cool Head.
He had the presence OF mind to climb
to the top Of the frame and slash the
gas bag with knife. The rush of gas
increased the rent and the balloon was
descending at a tremendous velocity.
Again his cool head stood him IN hand.
and he climbed back on the frame, and
with his two hands held the cut parts to-
gether until the balloon lowered over a
three-story building.
Hamilton, who is as nimhle as an aero
bat. leaped from the frame onto the roof
According to Hamilton's story, the own
er OF the building took offense because
Hamilton had scraped OF some fresh
gravel, and refused 20 allow the aeronaut
the privilege Of coming down through
the skylight. Hamilton said he tied a
rope TO the chimney and scaled his way
TO the ground.
In 1867 and 1905 Hamilton drove Stree
bel balloon and gave exhibitions In the
United States. Mexico, and Japan.
Last November Hamilton returned to
this country from Japan, where ne had
been giving dirigible balloon fights. He
went 10 the Curtiss aeroplane factory at
HammOndsport The first day ne took
seat in q machine he few four miles
before he stopped. The next day he made
a fight of thirty miles.
In January he took a prominent part In
the Los Angeles meet, and set up a rec
ord for quick starting leaving the ground
in IS seconds after a run OF 70 feet He
also holds the record for glide OF 100
feet
Makes Long Glide.
Hamilton says an accident 10 HIS en-
CINE in midair Is responsible for his spec
tacular glide. It was while he was trying
to beat Paulhan's height record IN Cali
fornia that his engine stopped several
hundred feet from the ground ana he
skiIifully guided his machine back to
earth.
Hamilton's most notable aeropIane
fight prior to the one made to-day was
In a fight from San Diego, Cal. IN
January, when he flew q distance OF
twenty-six and one-half miles across the
Mexican border and back again without
stopping Thirty miles cs She trip was
flown over the Pacific Ocean. In making
this fight Hamilton was the first aviator
TO cross the United States border 20
another country.
Hamilton's sensational flying was not
appreciated IN the East until a week or
two ago, when he took his machine to the
Hampstead Plain aviation field and gave
some startling exhibitions OF diving from
an altitude of several hundred feet to ten
or fifteen feet. No other aviator in the
world has ever performed such spec
tacular feats in making dives. At Gov
eTnors Island in making preliminary
tests Of his biplane for his long cross
flight he braved q drizzling rain
and few in wind estimated from twenty
to twenty-five miles an hour. He Is the
only aviator who flies over water without
the protection OF floats
In personal appearance Hamilton is not
a matinee idol He Is red-headed, freckie-
faced. and bow-legged. He is called the
feather-weight aeronaut. and tips the
scales at 10 pounds.