The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
FACES AIR PER|LS
IN DARING FLIGHT
Harry M. Atwood Sets New
Mark for Aviators to
Follow.
FLIES OVER NEW YORK CITY
Currents From Manhattan's Can
yons and Cliffs Had Held
Terrors for Birdmen.
FLIES OVER NEW YORK CITY
Especial to Tho Times-pispatch. ]


New York, July HAIRY NJ At
wood. the youthful Boston aviator,
who. until six weeks ago. never had
set In an aeroplane. flew from New
London to this city this morning. COM
pletins the journey from Boston, which
he had carried as far as New London
on Friday.
After ending his trip Atwood an
nounced that he would compete in the
$4,000 prize fl ght across the CONT
nent next year.
While the flight itself was a re-
markable one. Its spectacular course
made IT record breaker. for Atwood
on reaching this city startled New
York's busy millions by circling twice
over the Singer tower. and performing
all sorts of daring evolutions over the
skyscrapers in lower Broadway.
Finally he landed, triumphant on
Governors Island with his mechanician.
who had been beside him throughout
the thrilling flight
Atwood accomplished his feat In a
Wright biplane. in spite OF the dictum
of Wilbur Wright that the man who
attempted the feat would not be per-
mitted to try 1t with that machine.
As Finnl Flourish.
Atwood not only did II with
Wright biplane. but he achieved tho
from the Hub. 23S miles by rail and
EOS miles as the Boston flyer made IT,
He made the first trip between the
two cities with his mechanioian, Ed
ward Fleet, as passenger. The flight
Is not only the 'ongest cross-country
flight ever made in this country, but
is also the longest cross-country two
passenger eight ever made above the
American continent.
NIor.. reDnarlS a hle StilI AtWo0d made
the flight with only one stop. and that
stop at New London, where he landed
Friday morning in order to attend the
Harvard Yale boat races. 1t took him
just two hours and twelve minutes
to fy from Boston to New London, and
he made the trip from the Connecticut
town to New York In two hours and
twenty-siX minutes. This is total of
four hours and thirty eight minutes.
Tho express trains run between Bos-
ton and New York In five hours. At
wood flew thirty-two miles more than
the distance traversed by the railroads
and made the trip in twenty-five min
utes less time.
Atwood rose from New London at
Eve minutes past 7 o'clock this morn
ing, with the intention of flying down
the Connecticut short and crossing
Long island Sound to the aviation
nelu at MlleOld w men ne got lHlD
the air he found his motor humming
so steadily and the air currents so
favorable that his confidence grew. and
instead of crossing the sound he
turned inland off Mount Vernon. tower
ed like falcon to reconnoitre and
headed for He'll Gate and the mouth
of the East River.
Below him lay an interrupted stretch
of roof tops to touch. any one of
which would mean instant destruction.
Before him stretched the narrow and
torturous course of the river crowded
with traffic and spanned by four lofty
steel bridges.
Plays With Perils.
AS II playing with his per!ls At
wood crossed the river to Long Island
City, near the Williamsburg Bridge.
turned back to Manhattan and.
crossing the river n second tin !. flew
over the city at no great altitude to
the lower end OF tho island. clrcled
the Singer Tower. defelected his course
past Trinity Church. and eastward
south of the Liberty Tower and tho
new Bankers Trust building to Wall
Street, and lowered in smooth spirals
for moment over the amazed curb
brokers in Broad Street below.
The demonstration was as complete