The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-11-09
RODGERSTR|UMPHS;
FLIES TO PACIFIC
Greatest Feat in World Aviation
Is Finished.
LANDS AT PASADENA, CAL
Immense Throng Almost Mobs Flyer
lis Carried From Field on Mems
Shoulders-Wife First to
Greet Him.

Los Angeles. Cal, Nov. 6.-The con.
tinent has been crossed in an air.
ship. .."
Calbraith P. Rodgers in his Wright
Vim Ffz flyer; landed at Pasadena, com.
pleting the most marvellous feat OF
aviation in history.
Although Rodgers has been forty
nine days making the record-breaking
flight, his actual flying time was but
little more than 100 hours, but a few
hours less than the running time of
the fastest trans-continental trains.
1t demonstrates the vast posi-
bilities Of the flying machine" said
Rodgers, who came here from Pasa-
dena' and was given a tremendous re-
ception. 1T goes to show that the
flying machine is no longer to be
looked upon simply as a plaything, an
amusement affair for county fairs and
aviation meets. 1t is a commercial
potentially that must be reckoned
with along with other means of rapid
transportation"
Last LAY run OF nTliIS.
The flight of the birdman was full
of thrills for himself and hundreds of
thousands of persons who gathered
along the route, in this city and at
his terminal point.
The start was made at Banning,
where Rodgers spent the night. The
wind was almost a gale, and the avi-
ator found it necessary to force his
engine to make any Roadway
He had covered only eight miles
when his engine began missing and he
was compelled to descend.
A big crowd at Beaumont witnessed
his first descent and surged about the
field during the hour it required to
put the machine in order. From
there ii was straight sailing. The
wind had died down sufficiently not
to interfere with the working of the
engine and the birdman bowled along
at express train speed to Pomona,
when he again alighted as a precau-
tionary measure.
Last Leg Sprint.
He found the machine In perfect
order, and then set out on the last
leg of his history making journey.
II was exactly four o'clock when the
first field glass among the thousands
of watchers at the polo field at Pasa-
dena spied the flyer, and in another
two minutes the greatest aviation feat
of the world was accomplished.
Rodgers was on the ground pull
ing at a big black cigar, the 5000
miles of American continent behind
him.
Mrs. Rodgers was the first to greet
him when he stepped from his seat
In the aeroplane. She had followed
him all the way from New York dur
ing the long journey, the special train
keeping pace with the flyer.
Nearly Mobbed by Spectators.
The crowd was upon Ridgers In a
moment and must have torn him to
pieces for souvenirs but for a strong
guard of special police. But the
crowd would not be denied. and after
the first mad enthusiasm had subsid-
ed the aviator held an impromptu re-
ception, shaking hands with hundreds
who passed by in line. At the con-
clusion the airman was seized and
carried triumphantly upon the shout
ders Of reception committee.
During his trans-contienental fight
Rodgers landed in or passed through
ten states and flew approximately
1884 miles. He has met with eleven
accidents. and his machine was
wrecked seven times.
He has lost nine days on account of
these accidents and damaged ma.
chine. been delayed five days on &C
count OF wind and rested up FIVE days
at different points en- route.
Rodgers started from the race track
at Sheepshead Bay, New York, at
4;25 p. m. Sunday, September II.
The keokuk Dam