New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-30
BROOK|NS BEATS
RECORD OF CURT|SS
Wright Aviator Flies 107 Miles
and Wins Prize of
$4,000.
CHICAGO TO SPRINGFIELD
IN 5 Hours and A Minutes
Water, Oil, Gasoiene and
Balky Pump Make Two
Stops Necessary.

Springfield. Ill, Sept. 29.-Walter
Brookins alighted in the State Fair
grounds al AZ p. m. to-day, hours i
minutes ont from Chicago, having made
only two stops.
AS soon as he had his machine stored
and guarded. Brookins. who is twenty
two years Old, went to Springfield TO
keep q luncheon appointment with the
reporters The American record for con-
tinued flight. previously held by Glenn
H. Curtiss. at I4l miles, for flight be-
tween Albany and New York. had been
set at IS7 miles by BroolIins in Wright
oiplane.
He descended at Gilman. ILL., seventy
five miles south Of HIS starting point, in
washington Park, Chicago at 1880
"a. m. and at Mount Pulaski, Ill, 1853
miles from the starting point at $50
70. m. The first stop was for water. oil
and sasoIene: the second for supplies
md because his pump had broken and
the engine had become hot.
D.. His official starting time was 9:15 a. m.
The longest sustained flight was from
Gilman, III, 10 Mount Pulaski. eighty
eight miles.
Brookins thus broke Charles K. Ham
siton's record for sustained 'cross-coun-
try flight of eighty-six miles from New
York TO Philadelphia BY making the
longest 'cross-country continued flight
sn America he won the $4,000 prize
s,-rered by The Chicago Record Her
hid"
AS Brookins swept out Of the field at
Mount Pulaski, one Of the small rubber
tired wheels on which he rolls in max
sng Roadway before arising, struck
a1urnnock and was wrenched off. Not
srnn1rins of the accident Brookins rose
TWO thousand feet and. heading for
Springfield. swiried away. leaving the
Illinois Central special train far behind.
This was the second railroad locomo-
hive that the aviator had left far behind
.n a fair race w. F. Burt, the engineer,
who made the first attempt To defeat the
eir craft had 10 give up at Clinton Ill
Rroolins reached the State Fair
grounds eight minutes before the Illinois
Central fast special train reached the
springfeld station. three and one-half
miles SIlOTl VI Al46 AeAAA fo4pAA-NA1-
actual flying time was ; hours "A min
utes for the 1S7 miles, an average OF
about thirty three miles an hour.
Rroozins found some difficulty in
alishting because Of the inadequate po-
lice provision at the fair grounds, and
although he arrived over the grounds at
z22 O'Clock. il was five minutes before
l. could land. The crowd surged about
him. threatening to crush the machine,
until he had TO make personal appeal
l. get the throng back.
1t nas one Of the prettiest flights I
ever made said Brookins later. The
country between Chicago and here is
delightful Everywhere was flying low
erough-and 1 went as low as three
hundred feet several times-I could see
the people staring up at me from every
acre almost. There must have been
fhree-quarters Of a million looking at
me
ONLY water. oil and easolene and a
balkY pump stood between BrOokins and
q continuous. sustained flight between
Chicago and Springfield BrOokins said
that when his arms got tired he set the
N apparatus with his knee and rested.
III men ne TOOK hOld again ana scared 70
greater heights. ready to glide up and
down where less effort was needed to
control the machine
Two locomotives were used on the
special train, each running about half
the distance, but both were behind when
the aeroplane made its descents. Aboard
the train. which carried many passen-
gers as well as Brookns's friends. all
was excitement.
Every country crossroad also had its
quota of gazers and every village was
filled with skygaZers. Tralnmen would
ask, when they came up: Where is
6e?" and the reply always was: