New-York tribune., 1910-06-12
HAMILTON IN FLIGHT
Continued froE, Arst page


Hamilton went above it, and did not
hear what the pilot said. He had been
flying a little over half an hour when the
sunset gun was fired. Staten Islahu
ferryboat slowed down in midstream be-
fore the Statue of Liberty. Hamilton
went out to il, flew in front OF the pilot
house and around the boat and the
cheers of the passengers carried hah
vav across the island, though the wind
was blowing in the opposite direction
WHY did not the tugs and other craft
salute the flyer? 1t was hard to under
stand. 1t may have been because OF the
surprise of the pilots. or from jealousy.
Not a haIf-dozen water craft gave him
a salute. But several stood still, more
genuine compliment
The Flight in the Dark.
The skvscrapers of Manhattan faded
from view, two red danger slgna's
showed from Castle William. The iignt
in the hand of Miss Liberty was paie
and q little sad looking out there IN the
foegy night. Ferryboats made orlh-
liant contrast with their hundreds OF
IlxntGd NlndONs, anu citSS
ton was drawn to one of these
The little black aeroplane, spitti''s
SHARKS from the engine, tipping sidewlse
in the wind, ffirted with the ponderouS
vessel as she shot spray from her DOW
and. auiveripg above it like bee over
a flower the beautiful machine drew
cheers from the hearts of~the passengers
and came back reeling slightly. The pas
sengers on that boat. visited at night by
so beautiful a stranger, Will remember
the scene in their dreams and recount it
| to other generations.
| To the credit of that ferry pilot let 1t
| be known that Hamilton was saluted.
/ Across the North River the electric
| signs Of the various railroad terminals
tried to blaze forth, but the fog discour-
aged them The big clock Of the Col
gate Company was a circular golden
haze set in darkening gray. And stDl
the flyer flew.
| Friends called to him through mega
phones, begging him to come down.
Hamilton heard nothing but his motor.
At. 754A o'clock he glided to the sand,
almost at the entrance flap of his tent.
He had flown an estimated sixty miles
on his second testing out of his pro-
pelIer." He was chilled TO blue color.
'I couldn't get my hand around TO my
back pocket for my handkerchief" he
chartered. That is why I came down.
couldn't blow my nose
! Got q cigarette, somebody" clutch
| ing at a box, among a dozen that were
lovingly extended.
MY light went out, too-that's an
| other reason" he said.
''Have a banana?" asked a man, for
the lack OF something else to offer.
Sure" said Hamilton. Didn't know
was so hungry" after the first bite.
Have another?" asked the man, anx-
iously
Sure" said Hamilton. When does
the boat leave? I'd like to eat.
| Got another cigarette, anybody
| Just before stepping into his machine
he felt 70 ra cigarette, found none in
his leather jacket, and said with boy
ish smile;
Say, who's got cigarette? Thanks,
old man."
When he nodded to his mechanicians
who let him soar upward a thin trail Of
smoke f1oated aft.
Greatest in World, Experts Say.
There is rapidly growing the belief
among experts that Hamilton is the
| greatest operator of the aeroplane in the
world. He rides the air as a great
pianist plays a masterpiece. He loves
| 1t. A gust Of wind fills him with
ecstasy. A narrow escape makes him
pant for another.
He knows no fear. When he is in the
air he is master of his fate. When he is
on the ground he tries TO tell the gap
| ing admirer that It is really nothing at
all He is unaffected, frank and sincere.
| The machine in which Hamilton flew
yesterday and in which he expects to fly
has been a greater number of miles in
the air. It is said. than any other aero
plane in the world.
| 1t is the one Glenn H. Curtiss took
with him to France last August and
! there won the international aviation tro-
| ply for speed. The same motor is in it
still. Including Curtiss's flights at
Rheims. Brescia, Italy, and Los Angeles
and the flights by Hamilton since early
! February this year it is conserVatively
estimated that the aeroplane has flown
at least four thousand miles. The mo-
tor it is said, has never failed.
Mr.. Curtiss was present for the
greater part of Mr. Hamilton's eXhibi-
tions yesterday. but was compelled, be-
cause of an important engagement, to
leave the island before they were COM
pleted. He said:
"1f anything should happen TO Ham
ilton now'-wheh he was flying over the
Upper Bay-"and he should fall in the
water, it might we'll mean a loss. in a
money way, OF S25 200. Hamilton
should be more careful, but he has no
sense Of fear"
Hamilton expects TO make some more
| flights this afternoon at Governors
Island if the weather permits, and then
will start at Z a. m. tomorrow for
Philadelphia. from which place he in
tends TO return before evening He will
use no pontO0ns or other contrivances to
protect him in the event he falls into
| the water. He will carry a 20 gallon
gasolene tank, which should be sufficient
Tor a four hour flight. This tank adds
to hi