The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-01
MRS. VANDERBILT UP IN A|RSH|P
 WITH. HARMON

Mrs. William K Vanderbilt. Jr.. had
 her first taste of practical aeronautics yesterday afternoon at Mineola when i Clifford B. Harmon, the daring anna | teur pilot, took her up in his Farman biplane. Three-quarters of lap. or nearly half mile was the distance travelled, and the time occupied was l thirty seconds.
 On the far turn the big machine | showed signs of failing power. The motor didn't perform as satisfactorily as during the flight when Mrs. liar mon went a distance of six miles on Wednesday. Harmon brought the plane to the ground without difficulty, except that a bolt loosened from one of the sllds and thus put an end to the hope Of another flight with the en- zine tuned up better.
 Mrs. Vanderbilt waited about for a time to see if the damage could be re- paired, so that she could continue, but the mechanics could not make the re- pair in time and, accompanied by Har- man. she walked back to the starting point.
 With Mrs. Vanderbilt were Mrs. Frank Griswold. Mrs. Foxhall Keene, Mrs. Thomas Hastings. and David El- kins of West Virginia. Harmon had made the appointment with Mrs. Van derbilt early in the day. and when he came out from New York about 5:3O p. m. she was on hand ready for the flight. As soon as the big machine was rolled from it's shed to the avia- tion field Mrs. Vanderbilt walked out with the pilot.
 The crowd began to close in around the plane, and the grand stand which has just been erected was almost for saken, every one trying to get glimpse of what was happening from close quarters. The mechanicians ad- justed a step ladder at the front of the machine. and then without the least hesitation or a trace of anything that could be construed as fear Mrs. place in front of the gasoline tank her station being a small seat not more than foot high. Tn front liar mon climbed to the aviator's seat and then the word was given to the assist ants to start the motor.
 The engine seemed to go we'll, and then there was an extra loud whirr as Mrs. Vanderbilt, as if impatient placed her foot on one of the controll ing wires that opened up the throt- tie. Harmon looked around quickly to see what was wrong, and then the wire. To brace herself Mrs. Van derbilt then leaned forward and grasps ed two of the uprights, and an instant later the machine was in flight across the field.
 After travelling about 100 feet cry broke from the crowd. There she goes!" as the biplane lifted from the ground. The landing was made about half mile from the starting point, and when the pair got back Mrs. Van derbilt received the congratulations of her friends. She said:
 'It was one of the most marvellous experiences I ever went through. and aviation certainly has decided ad- vantage over automobiling. There was never a jar not even when we landed, and my only regret is that the trip could not have lasted for a great CT length of time. If the opportunity is offered I shall soon go up again, and then I hope it will be for a long flight. MT. Harmon says the height at which we travelled was about thirty feet, but it was really so exciting that I didn't have much conception of such things"