The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-14
WARD WILL FLY
 ACROSScONT|NENT
Second Aviator Attempts Trip-Fowler Working
 Hard At Repairs

Patterson, N. J., September 13.-James J. Ward, the young aviator who started from Governors Island, N. Y, this morn ing in the race to the Pacific coast for the William R. Hearst prize, landed here at s:45 o'clock tonight less than 20 mile6 from his starting point. He had planned to make Middletown, N. Y. his first stop, but he lost his way twice and encountered adverse winds. He landed easily here and is in good position to start to- morrow.
 The 20 miles separating this place and Governors Island represents probably only a third of the distance actually trav- eled by Ward Losing his way as soon as he reached the Jersey shore. he followeo the Lehigh Valley railroad tracks to the southwest, mistaking them for the Erie tracks, which go northwest Realizing that he had lost his bearings and having no other way to set himself right, he de- scended at Ashford, about r or IS miles from Governors Island.
 He left there at o'clock, but finding himself badly buffeted by the wind, he descended in the outskirts of Newark at
  and landed just inside Patterson's south erly city limits 55 minutes later. Here he remained over night.
 Ward, who Is only 22 years of age, is the second competitor to try for the prize offered by Mr. Hearst for the quickest flight from coast to coast and the first to start on the west ward route. To win he must reach Los Angeles or San Francisco in 30 days
 Just before the young aviator jumped into his seat Major General Grant, com mander of the department of the east, rode up with two aides and handed him letter for deliverance at Los Angeles or San Francisco.
 As soon as he got clear of the island, Ward mounted rapidly. The air was clear, and expecting no difficulty in pick ing out his landmarks, he said that he expected to make most of the journey at q height of about 20OO feet. Against the wind his 50 horsepower engine can make about 45 miles per hour. If the wind changes lie will do decidedly better Ward carried l5 gallons of gasoline, enough to take him about 150 miles.
 Ashbrook, N. J., September 13.-Avia- tor Ward landed here on his coast to coast flight, having mistaken the Le- high Valley railroad for the Erie rail- VI. l where he was, went into the air and retraced his course toward Jersey City. where he purposed taking up his course along the lines of the Erie railroad for Middletown, N. Y.
 Alta Cal, September 13.-Aviator Roo- crt G. Fowler, whose aeroplane was badly damaged yesterday. the second day of his trans-continetal flight, expects to resume his tourney Saturday morning. Fowler and a force of mechancians are rebuilding the damage craft. a At
 The arrival here today of special bag gage car from Reno with a number or snare parts for the aeroplane enambed Fowler to make. considerable headway in assembling the machine The entire out fit will be moved to Colfax tomorrow where there are better facilities, and the start Saturday will he made from there.
 That Fowler is determined to continue his flight to New York was emphasized when it was learned that a complete bi- plane with the exception of. the engine, had been shipped to his camp here rom, Ogden, Utah. where It had been held in reserve for emergency use.
 The machine will arrive tomorrow and if 1t is found that rebuilding of the wreck cd aeroplane will consume too much time the new machine will be used and the old one patched up later.
 Ogden, Utah. September l3.---A bi- plane, without engine. left Ogden this morning for Aviator Fowler The ma- chine, expressed from the east. which reached this point Tuesday, was to have been hold here in reserve.
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