Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-22
AeropIane Trip
Over the Sound
FROM GARDEN CITY, L. l.. TO
GREENWICH, CONN.
CLIFFORD B. HARMON
Connecticut Man, Amateur Aviator,
Makes First Trip Over the Water
way-He Wins $1,000 Cup.

Greenwich, Aug. 21.-Clifford Il. Har-
mon of this place, business man and
amateur aviator, late yesterday made
the first flight across Long Island sound
in a heavier than air machine and
within a half an hour of the time OF
landing was eating dinner at the home
of his father-in-law, Commodore E. &.
Benedict.
His fight was not looked for and the
only person to greet him on his arrival
was his wife. who had watched his
flight through telescope from her fa-
theirs house.
Distance of % Miles.
Harmon escaped without a scratch.
but his MACHINE. which on landing ran
some distance into a clump of tall grass
and weeds. was considerably damaged.
the chassis being broken. Harmon
started his flight from Garden City at
6.35 and landed in Greenwich at 7.05,
covering a distance of about rs miles.
Harmon. who has made several un-
successful attempts to cross the sound
in an aeroplane, meeting each time with
an accident that prevented the compile
ton of his journey, quietly planned yes
terday's fight, his wife and father-in-
law, Commodore Benedict. and several
prominent Englishmen who are guests
at the Larchmont Yacht club being the
only ones on the Connecticut shore
aware of the fact that he contemplated
the flight.
Before starting his journey he
man biplane. with Charles X. Hamii-
ton as a passenger. and the two few
over the aviation grounds at Garden
City TO test the engine. to allow Ham
Finding that his machine was in good
working Order. Harmon landed his pas
senger and started on his flight.
Good Wind at His Back.
On the start of his journey he had q
fifteen mile wind at his back. which
increased to twenty five miles an hour.
and in flying over Hem ps tead bay en-
countered cross currents that caused
him some trouble. His original inten-
ton had been to fly directly over to
Greenwich, but Friday night he prom
lsed guests of the I4archmont Yacht
club that he would fly over the club
house before landing at his home
town.
From 400 to 1000 Feet High.
! Over the sound he varied the height
feet to a thousand, dropping nearer the
ground as he neared the Connecticut
shore
On reaching the yacht club house he
circled over the building three or four
times and then headed for Greenwich
He had intended 10 make a landing
either on Tweed Island or on a plot of
ground near the Benedict home which
had been moved and IeveIed for that
purpose. but it was dusk he ap-
preached the town and he could not
distinguish the landing spot making
the descent at a place a quarter Of a
mile distant The machine was going
at such speed when the landing was
made that it ran into mass of tall
grass which caught in the works.
breaking the chassis and wires, but not
damaging the engine
Watched by His Wife With Big TeIe-
scope.
Mrs. Harmon. who had been watch
ing her husbands fight through a large
telescope, motored to the landing place
and was the first one to greet her hus-
band, taking him back with her. before
the news of the flight had reached the
town
Wins Doubleday, Page Co. Cup.
BY making this fight Harmon be-
comes the owner of 81 900 cup offered
by Doubleday. Page company for the
first flight across Long Island sound.
The distance from Garden City. tho
sta rting point. to the Larchmont Yacht
club, is eighteen miles and from the
club to the landing place here is ten
miles.