The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-30
ATWOOD NEARING END.
Trouble With Engine Caused Some
Delay.

Nyack. n. Y, Aug. 24.--Another
delay incident to aviation brought dis
appointment TO thousands of people
along the lower Hudson river and in
New Yohk city today, when Harry n.
Atwood. in his record breaking aero
plan flight from st. Louis, failed to
sail over New York and land at
Sheepshead Bay but instead. on ac-
count Of defect in his engine. was
compelled to land here. within 26
miles of his destination. Tomorrow,
probably early. Atwood expects to
resume his trip and in one hour fin
ish the longest aeroplane flight ever
achieved.
Atwood is 1.240 miles from s..
Louis and 25 miles from the heart
of New York; His flying time for the
distance covered In IL days is ~
hours and As minutes. Despite his
failure to reach New York. the days
sail of 100 miles down the Hudson
gave Atwood. by rs miles, the worlds
long distance record, formerly held by
European aeronauts.
Atwoods' flight down the Hudson
was full Of picturesque incidents. He
covered the 109 miles from Castleton,
where he ascended at 1886 a. m,
to Nyack, where he made his final
landing at 1888 a. m, in an actual
flying time Of 2 hours and 81 minutes.
After the start from Castleton. hour
and minutes brouhgt him over
Kingston. opposite Rhinecliff, which
marked his having surpassed by 13
miles the previous worlds long dis
tance record Of 1.164 miles. Further
down Atwood dropped to near the
water as to be able to shout to the
passengers on fiery boat. At that
point he approached the Poughkeep-
sic bridge and swoopipg still lower
went under 1t at height above water
OF only 100 feet.
Atwood's explanation Of his failure
to land at West Point, where the
parade grounds were crowded with
officers. cadets and citizens, was that
he found the space allotted him too
hampered.
After sailing low enough to look
over the prospect he rose again,
sailed over the river and landed at
Garrison. where no one was waiting
to greet him. At 11:05 a. m. Atwood
started again. purposing to make his
last dart for Sheepshead Bay and
thus complete the trip. But he had
not gone far when he discovered that
the bearing-metal Of his engine had
worn away and the mechanism was
wobbling. Twenty-eight minutes after
his last start and when only Is miles
| out of New York ne decided to de-
scend here. Atwood is working to-
night on the broken engine Of his
aeroplane. Close as this Is to the
finish Of his flight from st. Louis,
the young aviator tonight said he
faces the most embarrassing predica-
ment Of his long journey.
His biplane Is in an awkward box,
| out OF which he says only a south or
southeast wind can help him. 1t
rests near a hay stack on the small
sloping meadow. $50 feet above the
Hudson and about 1000 yards from
! the water. Almost behind him is the
rocky Hook mountain, rising 500 feet
and to the south and east tall trees
make II difficult place to take wing.
1T is the worst I have had since
leaving st. Louis" he said. II could
only climb out Of here against a
southerly or easterly breeze"
He frankly admitted disappoint-
ment over his ill-luck. "I shall work
here all night" he continued. fixing
the engine. The trouble Is a broken
babbit on the connecting rod. 1 have
sent to the Nyack machine shop for
new casting and I'll be ready to
ny just as soon as the wind blows
right tomorrow"
Atwood announced tonight that ne
VIII not attempt to fly from New York
to Boston after reaching the metrop-
oils.
I'm too tried" he said, "for a