Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-10-13
Colonel Says It Was the Finest
Sensation That He Ever
Had Experienced.
WANTED TO WkYE HIS HANDS
Aviator Had to Warn Him to
Keep Qviet-Governor Had
ley Signs with Relief
When Trip Ends,

E(. LOUIS, NO. DCr. LII h6OuOre
Roosevelt to-day made an aeroplane
flight as the passenger OF Archibald
IIoxsey and said It was the finest sensa-
tion he ever had experienced. lie travelled
Two times around the aviation field At
kirloch park In three minutes ard twenty
seconds.
lie waved his hand at the thousands of
spectators, much to the discontinue @.
the aviator who feared that the colonel
might hit a controlling cord. When the
machine alighted easily few feet from
the starting place. a mighty shout Of ap
| plause went UP.
! HoXsey, a Wright aviator. said that
Mr. Roosevelt made good passenger
/ except that he enjoyed the trip 80 inuch
! thot Hoxsey was afraid he would fall OUT
or interfere with the engine He wavel
| his hands al the crowds 90 vigorously
that Hoxsey called out to him: "keeI
your hands on the rail, colonel" Coone
Roosevelt, who had forgotten TO hold
himself in. oheyed orders.
His flight was surprise to everybody
Although he had been invited to go, no
one had the east idea that he would d.
SC, AND he himself did not decide to fl
until the moment before he stepped into
the machine
SUDDENLY DECIDES TO FLY
The trip to the aviation field was OF
the afternoon program OF the coloners
day In St. Louis. When Mr.. Roosevelt
reached the field Hoxsey's biplane was
standing directly In front OF tho grand
stend. The former President stepped out
Of his automobile with Governor Hadley
at his side and walked over the biplane
He inspected il and shook hands with the
aviator.
"l'd like to have YOU FOR a passenger"
said HoNsey. The colonel looked AT him
without word Then he began to take
off his coat II was the first intinia ton
that he would make trip in the air.
Governor Hadley stepped UP quickly
and said:
Are you really going uu, Colonel?"
cot course ! am said the colone,
Without another word. Ne took hi- seat
at Hoxsey's direction. beside the engine.
He removed his slouch hat and bor-
rowed gray cap which he pulled down
over his eyes The guardsmen vera
standing 50 closely about the airship that
few of the spectators knew what was 60
Ing on at first Hoxsey took his place be
side colonel Roosevelt. who watched the
preparations with a smile.
GRIPPED THE RAII. HARD.
After two tests the motor was allowed
to run The photographers had barely
time to step aside before the aeroplane
began to run the grass. Colonel
. Roosevelt gripped the rail hard and look
ed straight ahead. The machine skidded
over the field for a few yards. then lifted
its nose into the air. rising easily.
The aeroplane sped quickly around the
field at n height Of less than 100 feet. 1t
made the first lap Of n mile and a half
before news percolated through the crowd
that Colonel Roosevelt was Hoxsey's
passenger. At the end OF the second lap.
Hoxsey descended easily. the machine
= striking the ground without a jar lust
= few rods from the grandstand.
Il Mr.. Roosevelt smiling his most cx-
= pansive smile. disemharked backwards.
5 He became entangled IN the wires
e but soon was out OF them. When he
t people saw that he had landed safely
|. they cheered wildly and the guards
y had all thev could do to keep the
h crowd from breaking into the field
II WISHED r. HAD BEEN LONGER
= Colonel RooseveIt'a first act after
alighttuS was TO shake Hoxsey's hand
'' vigorcuglv. II WAS great Ftrst-
class II was the finest experience
e have ever had" he declared. II wish
L. could stay mp for an hour but
! haven't the time this afternoon"
~ "Did It foel scnrsv"' he YVES asked
"Not bit. not BIZ"
"What were your sensations
!, "Oh. Il was perfectly nne. I enjoy
Cd every minute of It,"
ne Governor l1atlcy. with n long sigh o.
III relief stepped mp to the colonel anC
- riotel him To his automobile, They rod
ID down the field past the cheering crowd
p and then started for St. Louis Waite
Rroollins and A. L.~Wclch followed tn
S. former Presidents party IN acroplancs.
ii HAS AN AERIAL. ESCORT.
n Alfred Leblanc In Bloriot aeroplan
n" led the procS ssion. The aerial escort con
e' tinucd for almost two miles from tn
aviation field. ON the way to st. Louis
!" Colonel Roosevelt stopped II make
y" speech al Clayton. where great GROVE
- had collected at the court house. Then h
w. drove into ST Louis and went to the Stat
- fair grounds where several thousan,
~ school children were waiting to hear hin
speak
" Eoxsey said that Colonel Roosevelt toll
+" INN he wanted to make his first flgh
=, in an American made machine, driven b
~ an American.
fy ~ bear hearty testimony 10 the 500
work being done there.
er '"rhere is no other country IN the worlC