The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-24
HARMON IN PERIL UP ALOFT
wen HiD PIT IN THE
NOTOR WRONG.

Trouble Causes Him tO DO stunts That ne
Didn't intend 10 DO -BIAYe on the
/ GrouRd Threatens Costly Machines
T. R. Coming To see the PLIERS.
About ?oOo persons apphadsd vigor-
| ously and at times held their breath as
! clifford b. Harmon made four and a half
laps Of the aviation course at Homestead
Plains early last evening. Mr.. Harmon
was trying out a new engine and the
change Of motors had affected the balance.
A. Harmon lett the ground the machine
swerved to the left. but as he went higher
IL flew steadier until ~ made a turn ON the
far side Of the field when the aero careened
To on angie that looked as II II would up
set. Harmon regaInsd control and for
two rounds he seemed TO have overcome
the difficulty and steered his machine
with more cunfd.nce. taking a height Of
To- feet or more.
On the fourth lap just as he passed
in front Of the grand stand lac made a
drop OF about seventy-hve feet. when the
maChin. again s~ervei m "a fashion that
made the spectators gasp for a second.
lie darted upward and waved his hand IN
return 20 the cheers He made another
half round Of the course and cew back
exactly 20 the point from where he had
started
Mrs Harmon, who had looked anxious
when the machine played trIcks. left her
seat IN a box and went down To meet Mr.
Harmon. who had not realized his dan
ger He said u Wac all the fault OF the
msChAnioian
IN vas a clock bcfora the flying began
OF. srh Al lv-t
inci up alongside Of HArnons every one
~ paCt 81 that there would hs n race in
the air Capt BALDWIN munnted his seat
= at made - start. but one u the men mold
.ug the machine Will" II y med IN mentufn
failed 10 r"lets" his grip N time. ms
caused the aero to sw"rve and one III the
upright struts was broken. The damage
was soon repaired and after quick run
the machine shot into the air aud two
circuits ~ the track were conpl.ted az a
height of from forty To fifty feet.
After Capt. Baldwin mad descended
Harmon took the field and made his flight
Then capt Baldwin and G'-Jl ge Russell
started simultaneously from different
ends OF the field and were both IN the air
for half a round when Russell came down
and went back To has shed on wheels
Capt Baldwin stayed up for two rounds
81 the course. Both Capt Baldwin and
Russell made other sort flights
II was past O'Clock when the asros
were wheeled Ia Toost. The crowd had
scattered and with the exception Of the
aviators and a few other enth usiasts the
ground was clear when som. one cried
Fire big curl u smoke Was rising
from behind the shed Of Harry Harness
where two Antoinette monoplanes arr
housed For few minutes there was
great excitement among the air men who
called To their helpers 20 drag out the
machines BY the time tho crowd had
reached the scene Of the smoke the firc
which had been started 10y dropping a
match IN some gRsolene. had been about
sxtin guished The white pine fenc.
which IL within about elk feet 81 the tent.
caught fir and for a few minutes threat
ened TO destroy the building
number ~ mechAniciana threw dirt
over the ground where the gasolene was
burning and others dashed water on the
hames that shot up from the fence The
Hardness machines are two 81 the most
valuable Oh the ground. and the dastr,lc-
ton 80 them would have meant a loss OF
several thousand dollars.
II was announced last evening by
Frank Do1bleday that Col, Roosevelt
will be n guest at the aviation field on
the afternoon Of August 10 He will als.,
take part IN the LAYING of the corner
stone ~ the Country Lge IN AmSrIra
building IN Garden City to he built by
Doubleday A Page
Next Saturday will be Aero Club dav
and all % the members will he PRIVILEGED
to bring guests ANY member having
invented a machine n also invited 10 try
II out on that day