Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-14

Hamilton was peering out the window
| her hair fiutterlne in the wind
"Oh; Mr. Ludlow" she cried to a
friend. We found him He's with
us
But the mother could not speak at all
She walked up and down the swayine
aisle of the parlor car. wringing her
| hands. her face flushed. her eyes moist
and shiny.
Wont You sit down." entreatcd one
of the party, offering an arm.
Il can't" she almost Sobbed, while
the tears of pleasure streamed down
her checks. And truly it was a beau
tirul sight. enough to bring tears. Four
hundred feet above the earth Skimnine
directly above the railroad tracks and
straight ahead OF the rushing locomo-
tive glided tho aeroplane.
TIL" motion was one of continual oS
cillation. fitting gently, first to one
side and then thC other, and rising and
fallin" over aerial hills and into val
lcy@ the eye could not see. The aero
plane seemed to pour itself through
space with the huidity of a stream
seeking its channel.
Hamilton explains this appearance in
his own way. When you are in a
canoe" he says. you don't try to drive
it through every wave you meet. You
let her ride over the crest and sink
into the trough. That's the way to
fly an aeroplane. Let the air have its
will with you. Don't fight it, follow
it."
What little wind was stirring seemed
Soutsleastcrly. Hamilton said after
ward that it Dlew q cross wind of lit
tie hindranCe but OF no aid to him. H.,
was moving with admirable steadiness
at an average speed of slightly less
than so miles an hour. There was M
question of a race with the train.
Whenever the engineer wished he cas-
lily Grew ahead. hut the instant he
slackened speed ;he aeroplane was over
his head again.
The first point of critical interest wa
New Brunswick. where there was the
Raritan river to cross, roofs. factory
chimneys, all Of city to fly over, the
possibilities Of instant death which
brick and mortar mean to the aviator
who must make an unexpected descent
Hamilton rose a little. but held his un-
slackened pace straight across the
heart of the town.
1t was a specimen of Self-cOnfidrncc
that brought cheers from the crowds n;
the station. and for the party aboard
The special train. In passing through
the city. the engineer had slowed down
little. and the aeroplanc began to
gain. Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs Beau
dette. Hamilton's mother. ran to the
forward coach for a better view An
ambitious photographer climbed onto
the tender.
Mrs. Hamilton scrambled after him
Not to be outdone. Mrs. Bcaudette
started 10 join her unasssted A
dozen hands were stretched in aid and
in moment the delicate old lady was
seated beside her dauShter-in-laW in
the dust and grim, waving happily to
her son. He saw her and for the first
time waved back Three times during
the trip, they exchanged signals.
An along the line crowds were gath
cred at eN cry station and crossing.
Gangs of section men laid down their
picks and shovels. Engineers of trains
dushing in the opposite direction de-
serted their seats and piled over to
the hremen's side Of the cab. Brake
men on freight trains waved their hats.
Passengers crowded the platforms and
and crammed the windows of their
cars.
Then as the territory grew more pop
ulous. factory whistles began to blow
a succession of short, nervous blasts,
while mill hands swarmed from the
doors like ants. In the gestures of all
.fh ,,,,o ,f al
emf ages, sexes and callings, there was
a curious Unanimity One and all
stood rooted TO the ground with their
heads back, and one arm tipped by the
extended index finger pointed straight
upward. They locked as If they had
been planted and would never move
again.
Nobody of all the thousands who
watched the flight did so with more
pleasure than Isaac Ludlow, New
York lawyer, who was crippled for life
when aviation was in it's infancy in ex-
periInenting with gliding machine
of his own invention, which he had
toWca hy an automobile. 1t was in Lud-
lows glider that Hamilton made his
first ascent in q heavier than air ma
chine when he was only a boy.
'"Fhis vindicates my faith" said Mr.
Ludlow: Il am glad I lived to see it.
NV own injuries were worth the cost
il / could inspire another such sue
cessful achievement"
Nearing Trenton, Hamilton began to
mount higher and higher. Here was the
worst spot of his journey with the wide
and deep flowing Delaware river to
cross.
when l began to climb here" he
said later, Il found the wind blowing