The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-14

room. Gov. Stuart, Of Pennsylvania;
Mayor Reyburn. members of the select
and common councils, politicians, So
ciety folk, IN automobiles. work
ingmen, clerks from the shops OF
Chestnut and Market streets, released
for an hour or so; longshoremen, from
the wharves. school children-every-
body, big or little, who could find time,
was packed in the field
Sees Mass of Humanity.
While the great crowd ia the aviation
| field stirred and shouted. Hamilton few
/ TO a point directly over the center OF
/ the field. changed his course, and circied
the field several times He says he VIII
not forget what an impression was made
upon him by the upturned faces OF 5000
persons. AT first he could hear little OF
the cheering. The crowd seemed silent.
The banks OF white faces exercised upon
him something OF q Hypnotic influence.
It was. he said. one OF the most exciting
incidents OF the whole trip. But he had
little time TO wonder az the spectacle.
A glance showed him a suitable stretch
Of level ground. From one corner Of the
/ field he swerved. shut OF power. and
descended in an easy slant that grounded
him with scarcely a bump.
There was a rush from all sides. Gov.
Stuart came forward and welcomed Ham
nton- The governor said he felt mighty
proud TO welcome the first flying man.
"Thank you" said Hamilton. pump
handling the governor. att IS mics OF
you 10 say that. But II was an easy
trip 1 lad the plane under perfect con-
troll l think / could have gone on in
dnfir al
II was the best trip I have ever made"
Afraid of the Fog.
He spent half an hour going over the
aeroplane to see that It was in shape for
the return trip, and then he went to
luncheon. Philadelphia would Ike TO
have kept him for several hours, but
he was anxious to start back as soon as
possible. He was afraid that fog banks
might have gathered along the air roads.
and he didn't want TO take chances on a
delay.
After q short inspection Of the machine.
he climbed in. sent it spinning along the
ground for 100 feet, and then rose into
the air. He assembled at an easy slant
until ne was perhaps 400 feet above the
ground. then liz out for New York at full
speed. The whistles and bells gave him a
rousing send-or
II was exactly 1870 a. m. when ne
rose. He had planned 70 be back on
Governors Island at lis D. m, and had
it not been for his misjudgment OF posi-
ton and the bad behavior of two spark
ing plugs, il is likely that he would have
flown TO schedule
At Princeton junction he was ahead OF
the special train. Princeton students
watched him from the tower OF Guyot
Hall and gave him cheer that he heard
The air ship was pretty far away from
the campus OF the university, and only
the boys who climbed high were rewarded
with sight OF the flying man.
Ignition Plugs FouIed.
He was pretty nearly over Metuchen
az I2:l2, when he noticed that the aero
plane was dropping a little, despite the
fact that ell power was on. His ear
warned him that the machinery was sing
ing out OF tune A rapid Investigation
revealed the trouble. Two ignition plugs
were not doing their work They were
fouled with dirt that should have been
cleaned before the return trip was
started.
At 1880 p. m. he saw that he had
flown over ribbon OF water. He thought
It was the XIII Won KulI, and that he
had made Staten Island. The motor was
behaving worse than ever. and the BIZ
plane was working unevenly. Far below
him Hamilton saw what appeared to be
q meadow. free and as level as a billiard
table. 1t seemed an ideal landing place.
with plenty Of space for moderating
shock He dropped swiftly and found
himself not on good, honest earth. but
In a nasty marsh. where pools of water
were collected along tangled flags and
rushes. He came down at 1884 p. m.
The plane sank away in" said Ham
ilton, 'the bicycle wheels going ont Of
sight AS soon as I got myself out I
found / was up to my knees in mud
and slime. It was sure a rotten hole
to be caught IN"
Again Ready for Flight.
Expert hands had the substitute pro-
peiler and the new ignition plugs In place
by O'Clock, and II looked as II Hamilton
would get to Governors Island By $40.
Here the crowd spoiled calculations. Peo-
pie were arriving all the time and the
roadway was choked with vehicles and
spectators afoot. They were as friendly
as possible. but they simply could not
keep from crowding around the aero
plane
Finally he got the wide road cleared |
ahead OF him for LOO yards. There was
danger in starting flight there. and |
Hamilton realized t. but the road was
the only suitable place in the neighbor- |
hood. Telephone and telegraph poles Dor
oereo II. and wires were strung thickiy |
q each side. The crowd enjoyed a thrill
sgsseElt-1s ssoQE hisr seeAsspckea hisehesds