Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-09-29
BROOK|NS FAILS
TO BREAK LONG
DISTANCE RECORD
Attempts Sustained Flight from
Chicago to Illinois State
Capital.
LANDS AT GILMAN
FOR ADDITIONAL FUEL.
Special Train, Carrying Wilbur
Wright and Party, Follows
After Biplane.

CHICAGO, Sept. 29.-Aviator Walter
Brookins failed in his attempt to make
continuous flight of 1876 miles from
Washington Park Chicago. to Spring
field, Ill., today. by descending at Gill
man, ILL.,, seventy-five miles from his
starting point
The descent, in a measure had been
provided for as the aviator did not
carry a sufficient amount of fuel to
fight the brisk wind which blew across
his path the greater part of the Jour
ney
Wilbur Wright, who was a passenger
on the special train following the avia-
tor, overlook his pupil at Gilman and
assisted in the preparations for the re-
sumption of the flight. He predicted
that Brookins would reach Springfield
without making another descent and
would thus break the record for sus-
tanning flight across country.
Landing Made Easy.
Brookins descended easily in a field
200 yards from the Illinois Central sta
tion at Gilman, where he awaited the
arrival of Mr. Wright, who was carry
ing the necessary fuel The special
train left the station at 1907 with Mr..
Wright aboard, Brookins not resuming
his flight until thirty-four minutes later.
Brookins said he had enjoyed the
trip, that he was not in the least
fatigued and that the bplane was
working smoothly. lie anticipated no
difficulty in reaching Springfield with
out further descent.
The aeroplane had maintained an
average height of about thousand
feet, from which the aviator could
plainly hear the shouts of the people
crowding the streets of the towns over
which he passed.
In practically all of the towns along
the route business was entirely sus-
pended as the air machine passed over
them.
Brookins resumed his flight from Gill
man at 1912 p. m.
| AT ;23 O'Clock this morning Walter
| Broofns in the Wright biplane
| Hawk started for Springfield, H., 1877
miles away, in an effort to break the
| long-dfstance sustained flight record of
! the country.
| His destination was the State fair
grounds at Springfield, and his object
the winning of the Chicago Record
/ Herald prize of $4,000. BroolSins said
/ he intended to sail high to avoid the
treacherous air currents.
| The ayiators successful exhibition
| flights here on Tuesday and Wednesday
! gave him confidence in his machine.
He left the ground without difficulty,
circled to test his machine and then
shot away like a homing pigeon to the
southwest in the direction of the State
! capital His last words were spoken
to Wilbur Wright, inventor of the air
craft,
Making Good Progress.
"Good-by, Mr. Wright; I'll see you
in Springfield" he said. Half an hour
later the Record Herald special train,
crowded with interested spectators,
started in pursuit of the aviator.
Brookins passed over Kensington, 19
miles from Chicago, at a:36 and at Gas
sped over the suburb of Harvey, 19
miles distant He was flying about
1000 feet high and at about the rate
of so miles an hour. The country
roads and fields were dotted every
where with people witnessing their
first aeroplane fight
The village of Monee, thirty-one
miles from here was passed at 1910
O'Clock. The aviator was flying stead
| lily, at about forty miles an hour. The
special lTdlu w WdS dpOdb- ciBlilGci iuiico
behind him.
| The biplane winged over Peotone,
| forty miles distant, at 1922, and over
Manteno, five miles farther on. at 10:S4.
1t was averaging, unofficially, about 80
miles an hour Tucker. fifty miles from
| Chicago, was passed at 1912.
Brookins passed over Kankakee at
| 1858. Business was suspended In the
town as the aeroplane, moving appar-
entity at the rate Of fifty miles an hour,
passed high above the streets.
When the aeroplane passed Otto.
sixty miles from Chicago, at IL a. M,
1t was flying at a height of about 1000
feet.
The special train following Brookins
had not yet sighted the machine, but
as the aviator had maintained an aver
age speed of about thirty-three miles
an hour since his start it was ex-
pected that he would be overtaken
shortly.
The special train was due at Spring
| field at S.04 p. m. At the average
speed thus far maintained by Brook
ins he would not arrive at the State
| Fair Grounds at Springfield until 1928.
1t was believed. however, that the
aviator was prepared for squirt at
| the finish of the race.