The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-13
Hamilton Makes First Half of
His Aerial Trip.
New York to Philadelphia in
113 Minutes.
TRAIN A PACEMAKER.
He Follows Special on the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
Starts on Return Trip But Is
Obliged to Descend.
TRAIN A PACEMAKER

made the most daring fight of his ca.
reer, travelling in his biplane from
Governors Island, N. Y, to a point in
the outskirts of Philadelphia, a dis
tance of Sc miles, in 113 minutes un-
official time. A feature of the achieve
ment of the young operator was the
ease with which he picked up and fol.
lowed a special train on the Pennsyl.
vania railroad. According to his pro.
gram he flew from Governors Island
to South Elizabeth, n. j., where the
train was awaiting his appearance
From that point town after towr
along the line reported the fact that
the train had passed, with Hamilton
flying directly over it,
Occasionally with the probable de-
sire to give variety to his journey. he
diverged little AT Princeton for in
stance, he went up near the old col
lege town so that students and grad
yates gathered there for commence
ment week might have a chance to
see him. At the aviation field, four
miles northeast from the center of the
city tremendous crowd awaited the
arrival of the daring airman.
An almost ideal landing cushion
composed of tall grass growing out
OF soft ground had been selected. The
field lies to the north of the Pennsyl-
Nania tracks near North Penn juno
tiOn and it was surrounded by 500 po-
licemen to keep back the crowd. All the
mills in the neighborhood were shut
down and that section took a holiday.
The crowd began gathering at a. m,
and waited for news of Hamilton's
start.
The Start Is Signaled.
Finally the signal flags erected on
tall pole told of Hamilton's leaving
49, I'll,
arranged by the New York Times and
the Philadelphia Public Ledger un-
der whose auspices Hamilton made
the journey, kept the crowd informed
OF the aviator's progress. A report
came that Hamilton had crossed into
Pennsylvania and it did not seem
long before shout went up from the
eastern edge of the crowd that Ham,
ilton was in sight.
There he was high in the air. direct
ly over the special train. A moment
later he was in plain view of all and
Flying steadily Hamilton rapidly ap-
preached and when he was within a
few yards of the field he swerved rap
idly to the right and crossed the field.
The aviator circled the field several
times and then swooped down. He
landed easily and before he could get
out of his machine the crowd broke
through the police lines and rushed at
Hamilton. The aviator was, however,
quickly surrounded by a Gordon OF
police.
Governor Stuart welcomed Hamilton
who said it was the best trip he had
ever made. 'I had the machine in per-
feet control all the way and could have
stayed up much longer. The only
drawback was the dampness and the
chill. Most of the trip was misty and
at times I could not see the train and
seldom saw the people at the stations"
For a long time after he alighted
Hamilton could pay no attention to his
biplane so enthusiastic was the recep-
tion he received. The police had ali
they could do to keep the crowd from
crushing his machine. Finally he was
able to turn his attention to 1T. Then
he announced after an inspection that
he would attempt to return to New
York within an hour, the weather con-
ditions being, in his opinion, ideal for
flying.
The Start.
New York, June 13.-Charles K.
Hamilton scared away from Gov
ernor's island early today. set upon ac-
complishing an aerial fight of nearly
200 miles. from New York to Phila-
delphia and return. The young aero
pianist, absolutely unknown in the
field of aviation a year ago. was de-
layed at the start by the smashing of
a propeller blade, but a new propeller
a second and final start made at 1885
O'Clock. Hamilton, puffed out to obese
proportions by a padding of inflated
rubber automobile tire tubes under his
leather jacket, made one wide pre-
liminary circle over the army reser-
walton before setting out for his OBJ
tective point
He rose on an easy slant to an alti-
tude of 225 feet and headed off to-
wards the Jersey shore, the river and
rA kfr,.er hi 7Oic Id
speed as he flew over the waters of the
upper bay and the Kill Won Kull. The
aviator carries letters from Governor
Hughes and Mayor Gaynor, which he
intends to deliver to Governor Stuart
and Mayor Reyburn in Philadelphia,
and a special message from the New
York Times to the Philadelphia Pub
lie Ledger. The flight is undertaken
under the auspices of the Times and
the Ledger.
The two papers have contributed a
purse which is to vary in value, ac-
cording to what Hamilton is able to
achieve. The total amount has not
been made public, but it is known that
If successful in accomplishing his full
task of a New York-PhiladeIphia and
return flight, Hamilton is to be hand
someIy rewarded for the effort.
Perhaps 1000 people lined the wat
er front at the battery despite the
early hour intently watching Cover
nor's island. Hamilton was lost to
sight in the fog at 7:40 o'clock.
Wears Life Preservers.
Hamilton was on the ground early
and busted himself with the prepara-
tions for his flight. He dressed him
self in a big leather jacket inside of
which were five inflated automobile
tire tubes, intended to act as life pre-
servers should the aviator fall into
the water.
He exchanged greetings with nu-
s.