The Washington herald., 1910-07-10

Atlantic City. July s-Using hfS last
pint Of gasoline 10 lrive his big Wright
machine across the line Of vision OF en-
gineers' transits on the beach. Walter
Brookins smashed all worlds records for
aeropIane height here this evening by
reaching a height Of 6,r5 feet above sea
level.
Assured by his aneroid barometer that
he was the first man to guide a flying
machine over a mile above the earth, ~
that he had established new recs<d by
more than l.ooo feet. the dsDs1g aviator
calmly prepared Tor his terrific glide
back to earth with the knowledge that
his engine would stop BEFORE ne had made
his first 900 feet downward.
The expected happened when Brooklns
was 5,o0 feet In the air with the ocean
directly under him. His entire descent
from this height was made in d series of
thrilling circular glides. finishing with a
sharp swerving bank, which spectators
took for final act Of plucky daring, but
which really was the only move that
saved the aviator fro mdashing into the
ocean.
May Win 5000 Prize.
Under the conditions of the Atlantic
City Aero Club. Breokins' feat entities
him 70 the prize Of $500, offered for the
breaking of the worlds record. unless his
feat is outmatehed before the end Of the
meet. Glenn Curtiss and Charles K. Ham
ilton, who are here with Curriss planes,
refused 10 state tonight whether or not
they would make an attempt 10 reach
higha altitude.
A 5eAing crowd Of i0oo0 packed
against the ropes and boardwalk rails.
screamed themselves hoarse when the
announcement vas made by tie Official
Ewatchers on the beach that the altitlde
Preached by the driver had smashed all
worlds records Police held back the
enthusiastic crowd with difficulty. while
/ Brookins made st on run from his ma
chine TO las dTessing-room on the pier.
/ halting only long enough TO grasp big
bunch of red roses held out 10 him By
Miss Eva Conyn. sister Of Frank Coffyn.
| Brookins' fellsw aviator
minutes and thirty-fve seconds and rdlu
Brookins spent just hour. minutes.
s. seconds, and 15-loo seconds in the air
on his altitude performance.
Starting at SOS ?. m, after a practice
| spin. when he reached an altitude of
1900 feet the youth drove his machine
| first westward and then out to sea. where
he appeared 10 gather his force for the
long journey toward the sky. The south
/ erly wind which had sent brick breeze
in from the ocean during the day died
| down along the ground as the machine
started upward. but the wind still held
| strength at higher altitude where the
machine could be. seen working its way
slowly across the beach and over the
! city. The rising circles grew in ciFcum-
! ference as Brookins reached the lighter
afr and was forced TO take a longer
plane to rise.
! Climb Is Tedious.
At Gil the machine was 1870 feet IN the
air. and news that Brookins had really
started after the worlds record flashed
over the resort and brought thousands
running to the beach.
At 6:44 when the big plane appeared to
/ be only two feet in length at its altitude
of 4,Soo feet. the new moon peeped out
from the only tiny cloud on the sky, and
directly behind the plane from the range
of the beach The fash of light appeared
| like fire. and The crowd started its first
real cheering when it was discovered that
the machine was still 81 f.
| At 6.59 while the crowd stood breath
| lessly awaiting the verdict of the Of
fetal watchers with their altitude guage.
the machine crossed the high line of the
| fight. 4 knew I had gone high enough
! from my aneroid barometers, declared
| the smiling Brookins. in explanation OF
his turning back toward earth. He de-
clared that he could have gone even
higher, as his machine was working per-
| fectly. but decided to take no chances.
He declared that at no time was he wor-
| ried Is to his bearings.
Brookins made his rushing descent
with ali the dash that has marked his
exhibition performances. Dropping with
ever-gathering speed. the machine rushed
down through the 5000 feet OF space in
| less than seven minutes, the nervy driver
narrowing his circles until he made a
| final turn within half the distance be-
/