The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04
Man Who Wrote the Story Sees Airships In Flight
GREAT AVIATION MEETING
Ayiators of Two Continents Gather in Field Near Boston to Engage in Flights for Purely Scien-
 tifc Purposes

Boston, September 3.-(Special.)- With rain falling In sheets, driven by stiff northeaster, five aeroplanes simultaneously In flight this afternoon inaugurated at the Squantum aviation field the most extensive aviation con test ever held In America. The liar yard Aeronautical society, which is purely for the sake of sport and science, stands sponsor for this enterprise, and is proud of the fact that this event takes place in the very heart of that section of America where the Anglo Saxon race made its first permanent settlement 300 years ago. Many de- scendants of those who came over in the now archaic type of marine yes sel represented by the Mayflower were enthusiastic spectators of the flights of the ships of the air today in the pelting rain and swirling winds. Un- fortunately the day was marred by the wreck of Clifford B. Harmon's new Farman biplane In attempting to start against the usage of aviators with the wind Harmons craft was un- able to soar before it got much head way and smashed to the ground in a ditch in a marshy section of the field. The left wing was smashed to splin- ters, the propeller was reduced to kindling wood and the front control crumpled like pasteboard. But for some miracle Harmon escape without a scratch, though he is badly depressed over the accident which deprives him of competing for number of prizes he had set his heart upon.
 Though Grahame- White, the British | flying champion, made three rounds of | the course in his Bleriot monoplane early this morning and made a flight l later in the Harmon machine after the New York millionaire amateur had tried 1t out the formal programme did not begin until ? o'clock in the afternoon. With the customary Boston canniness the people did not come In large num- berS Though the grandstand was built to hold 10000 there were prob ably never more than 200O spectators in the whole enclosure.
 With the sky leaden and driving wind, Wilbur Wright personally d. rected the new type of Wright machine to be brought on the course.
 Shortly after o'clock Ralph Johnstone started out to make duration and dis tance record. Apparently not affected nor concerned about the gusty wind he steadily drove the aeroplane to a height of 800 feet. As he passed the press stand John T. Trowbridge, a venerable man of more than 80 years, writer of many celebrated boys stories who 40 years ago wrote the school room classic Darius Green and His Flying Machine" had hls first glimpse of an aeropiane In action. As the machine passed the old man who had written of flying machines almost half century ago, rose and lifted his hat with an old-fashioned courtesy.
 Tt is dream of mine that has come true at last he murmured, but 1 did not expect 1t in my day."
 Johnstone reeled off circuit after cir cult or the 1%-mile course with great reg uiarity When Johnstone had been flying 50 minutes the rain began to fall. In spite of the increasing rain, which drove the crowd to shelter, Walter A. Brookins went up in his Wright biplane ten min utes later.
 A nail Hour later, With JohnStone and Brook1ns still unremittingly dashing off mile after mile as steadily as two au- tomobiles. Charles r. Willard joined them in his large and speedy Farman winged bipiane It was pouring steadily when Willard went up, but he quickly over took the Wright flyers. His biplane being equipped with 60-horsepower motor, he was able to fly much faster travelling 51s miles in minues, 50 2-5 seconds.
 Suitably clad in his Otlalxin pa In m 1iira suit, the Englishman set out from di- rectly in front of his tent % minutes later. He flew his Farman biplane and rose from the ground in spite of the driving rain with the grace that charac- terized Curtiss' method of handling an acroplane. In a few moments the four aeroplanes could be seen tearing around over the course with regular intervals between them like procession of huge birds
 Then Harmon essayed to Join the flock. He started before the wind As he attempted to get into crowded air lanes
 1t was seen that his bright new craft was unwilling. The machine shot off the ground, but canterd badly, both. back wards and sidewise. In making the first turn the loss of power brought the bi- plane down again. Just as it lowered over a deep ditch in the marsh 1t crashed to earth.
 fOFtundlely lne deTOpldne DrldXed the gap in the earth As the left wing struck it crumpled and Harmon was flung clear of the wreck into the grass That costs me just s1000O," he said as he stood ruefully regarding the tangle of wood and wires. Five minutes before I went up a man offered to pay me that sum in cash for this machine"
 After flying for 1 hour and 20 minutes, covering about 45 miles, Johnstone made sltiful landing in the marsh just be- yond where Harmon came to grief. Rain trickling into his magnet caused him to alight. Shortly afterward Brookins came down, having travelled 25 miles in 46 min utes and seconds. Willard having land ed some time previously, Graham E. White was the only aviator still in flight
 Although the rainfall increased to a torrent he steadily flew on breaking the monotony of the steady grind by shutting off his motor, sweeping to earth until he almost touched the ground in front of the motor tents. and then turn ing on power again as he swung from the scattering mechanics.
 After travelling 22 miles and hurling con fetti bombs at the miniature crowd on the field he came down after 40 minutes.