Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-12
Flying Across
 The Continent
ROBERT G.FoWLER MAKES START
 FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
TO MAKE TRIP IN 26 DAYS
Covers t2s Miles Without Accident on First Day--Pretty Young Woman Favors Him With a Kiss.

San Francisco, Cal. Sept. 11.-With the steady trade winds of the Pacific at his back. Robert G. Fowler, the first aviator to attempt a transcon- tipentai flight, sped today up the fer tile Sacramento valley and landed at 6.36 o'clock tonight at the foot of the white ramparts of the Sierras, the conquest of whose summits he must achieve.
 Covered 12o Miles.
 With only a brief halt at Sacra- mento for oil and gasoline, he drove his biplane high over the rolling foot hills and landed without an untoward incident at Auburn, Cal. 126 miles from the starting point.
 Sent Off With Cheers.
 Fowler rose from the stadium in Golden Gate park at .37 p. m. Sweep ing rst in broad winging flight over the surf of the Pacific his air craft quickly swung eastward and sped off toward the snow line of the Sierras. With the cheers of thousands pillow, ing up to him, he sped over the city and the warships at anchor in the bay, following the trail first worn by the Argonauts of 49
 At Rate of AS Miles an Hour. ! Over Berkeley, Suisun and Elmira he flew with the same steadiness that marked his start. The watches that checked his progress showed that he was making steady 45 miles an hour. As he swept high over the dome of the state capitol at Sacramento, cheering thousands in Agricultural park direct daring spiral. he settled easily to the ground, pulled the cotton from his ears and shouted:
 Well, I'm here. boys.s What time is it?''
 He was told it was ss7 o'clock. He Il 1f f1,a first leg of the journey in exactly two hours.
 Tt was a great trip, he, said T had not the slightest engine trouble and the feel of the air was perfect"
 Started for Auburn.
 He announced that he would con tinue to Auburn tonight and his me chanacians who had followed him in special trainf, fought their way through the mob about the machine and prepared for the continuation of the journey.. At 5.55 D.. m. he rose in the air and was off to the east ward.
 The 8ipIane christened.
 A crowd of distinguished persons gathered at the stadium in San Fran cisco's big park to bid Fowler bon voyage" Representatives of the ar my and navy greeted him and after a trial flight his biplane was chris tened in water from the Pacific ocean by James Rolph, Jr., director of the exposition.
 A Kiss for Good Luck.
 His mothers kiss was not the only one implanted on his lips before he started on his hazardous journey. AS he passed close to the ropes that held back the crowd from his machine, a pretty young woman threw her arms about the aviator's neck and kissed him ferventIy. Before he could break away other women had pinned Votes for women badge on the breast of his leather coat. Fowler finally es- capped, and blushing furiously took ref uge among his mechanicians. He con- tinued to wear the badge, however.
 To Make Trip in 26 Days. :.
 Fowler expects to make the trans continental trip in 26 days. He will leave Auburn early tomorrow. cross the mountain range through the treacherous gusts of the Truckee pass, and land for the night at Reno.
 Arrives at Auburn.
 Auburn. Cal. Sept. 11.-Aviator Fowler landed heresat 6.36 o'clock and will stop for the night.