Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-14
HAMILTON FIRST
AERIAL MAIL MAN
Intrepid SaiIorman of the Clouds
0verComeS Difficulties
Before UnchaIIenged
ALIGHTS ON MARK LIKE BIRD
BrookinS Rises to an Altitude of
1884 IL Feet in Indian
apoIiS Sets Record
ALIGHTS ON MARK LIKE BIRD
CONTINUED from Pare One,

My own injuries were worth while If
l could inspire another successful
achievement"
The train was now leaving Trenton
and Hamilton began to mount higher
and higher. Here was the worst spot
in the journey. Here was the wide
Delaware river; here was a broad city
with no path dividing 1t but the rail
way tracks; and here was the possi-
BILE danger of those erratic air cur
rents that often follow a river. More
over the railroad tracks were de-
pressed in a deep cut and spanned by
frequent bridges.
Hamilton planned going up in cross
ing the Delaware at Trenton. In fact,
he rose only slightly
when l began to climb the wind
was blowing head-on and blowing
much harder, too. Throughout my trip
1t was the same way. That is why 1
float at nearly uniform level of 500
feet"
The theory of these ascents over an
obstacle of wide area but of insignifi-
cant height Is that, in a properly ex-
ecuted flight, the aviator can move
forward 31h feet for every foot he de-
scends, so that II he only goes up high
enough he can always be sure of
clearing his danger path, should his
motor suddenly fail.
Now the train was beginning to fit
through the suburbs of Philadelphia
The crowds increased until they hid
the hillsides and fringed the roofs like
black netting. Hamilton let the train
go to the aviation field. Instead of
alighting he circled the field four times
slowly, giving the people good chance
to see him, and then settled with a
dive that made the crowd catch its
breath.
LUDLOY ELAT1ED
Men, women and children rushed
for him as soon as he settled, and it
took all the big squad of mounted
police TO protect him and his machine.
Hamilton stepped from his machine
with the diffidenee of q boy Mayor
Reyburn and Governor Stuart were
there to exchange messages for those
carried by Hamilton from Governor
Hughes and Mayor Gaynor:
After luncheon Hamilton was back
to the field and Off again before the
special train could get out of the yard
where 1t was sidetracked. 1t looked
like rain and Hamilton wished to take
no chances. In his hurry he over
looked the precaution that later cost
him an unwilling descent. He forgot
to clean his spark plugs.
There was no sign of anything
wrong, however, as he scared straight
into the distance and in five minutes
he had vanished In the haze.
The special train was ten minutes
In getting away Then followed the
most exciting incident of the day, at
least for the spectators.
TRAIN HOT IN PURSUIT
For thirty minutes the special train
was going at a speed of nearly seven
ty-five miles an hour before Hamilton
was sighted. In the thirty minutes
forty miles were covered. At the end
of the fortieth mile the train was
abreast of him. In the first hour he
covered 52.10 miles. 1t was notlcea-
BILE. however. that when his exhaust
became audible that his engine was
missing again.
Leaving South Amboy he headed
east for Staten island, crossing the
Kill Won Kull, whirled over the island
and quarter of an hour after he had
started was in sight of his landing
place. To the little knot of faithful
who had awaited him on Governors
island, he came into sight at 6:35. He
landed, thoroughly tired out, grimy
but smiling and cool. To his friends
who gathered about him he explained
his misadventure at South Amboy.
When the engine failed the aeroplane
was badly mixed in landing. but Ham
ilton called for volunteers. who carried
the machine on their shoulders through
slime waist deep to a stretch of level
roadway where he could make a good
getaway. With clean spark plug and
a new propeller he had no further
trouble.