Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-23
SHIPS HIS SHIP;
TAKES THE TRAIN
AS Anticipated, Aviator Hugh
Robinson Abandons Over
River Trip Here.
CITIES BELOW IN DEFAULT
Proposed Achievement Is Reluctantly
Given Up-Expresses Kindly
Feelings.

Argus OF Iudl udF. ANidlOt TluSH
Robinson, who reached Rock Island
Friday afternoon on his hydro-aero-
plane flight from Minneapolis to
New Orleans. Saturday evening aban-
doned his trip here. For this reason
and also because OF the condition OF
the clements. any flights that might
have been contemplated on the river
in front Of Rock Island yesterday
were called off. Robinson left for
his home in southwest Missouri at
noon Yesterday for q few days rest
while mis- machine was dismantled
and shipped to Enid, Okla,
where he gives a series of
aeroplane flights beginning Oct.
. Following this engagement he
vii! appear al Alva and Lawton,
Okla. and then proceed 70 San Di-
ego. Cal. where he becomes an in
structoT IN the United States army
school of aviation.
THROUGH WITH THE AIR.
Robinson reiterated before leaving
iLdt iAtiS 4dii NDu-I pOSll-NclN Gnu
his air Iiights What ! do here
after. will be strictly on the ground, -
he said. Il am through with air
maueuvers as soon as I conclude the
engagements that have already been
made for me by the Curtiss people. -
Speaking of the termination OF the
down-river fight, Robinson said: Il
am sorry I could not go on. While
il has been the hardest work ] have
ever done md the last day of the
fight from Dubuque and Clinton 10
Rock Island was exceedingly tire
some. as l was obliged to lean over
against the side Of my machine prac-
ticaIly all the way in order To battle
the cross currents of wind which
were beating in on the side and maxi
ing it exceedingly difficult 10 follow
the winding channel OF the river.
This exertiOn wore me out. There
was scarcely a bone in my body that
was not aching when I reached Rock
Island and besides that I was numb
with the cold / was mighty glad
to get the rest l have had here and
/ appreciate the courtesy that has
been shown me.
no COMPLAINT HERE.
II have no complaint to make
whatever Of The attitude of the Rock
Island committees. 1t was not that
no money was paid here that I gave
up my trip. 1t was the slump of the
cities further down the river. Bur
lington failed 20 make good. so did
marv of the others. including New
Orleans. and when ST. Louis. which
has pledged $4,000 flunked, that set
tied it,
The Curtiss people, whom I rep
resent. had nothing to do with the
raising of the pledges The Mississ-
Erpi aerial association guaranteed d
fund of 100000 for the fight, and
the Curtiss people undertook TO make
Z. assigning me 10 the task. Every
move of an aeropIane is expensive
and when II was found the money
vas not 10 ne forthcoming. rot even
enough for the ordinary expenses.
the fight was called off.
FAME FOR ROCK ISLAND.
u am glad ! got as far as ! did
and glad that II ended at so import
trip of this kind from Minneapolis
to Rock Island established new rec
ords which will go into the history of
aviation. both in the character of the
flights which combined the hydro
plane and the aeropIaue. the speed
attained. and the altitude reached.
besides it was the first instance of
a licensed mail carrier carrying the
United States mail. transporting it
through the air for so great a dis
lance
AS it is / could not have given
any Sunday fights on the river be
cause of the wind, so that all things
considered. it is perhaps just as well
that the whole project is abandoned,
aud 7 bid Rock Island adieu with the
kindliest feelings
PEOPLE ARE; DISAPPOINTED.
There was much disappointment
saturday night and yesterday when
II was learned that Robinson really
had abandoned any further exhibit
tons Of his hydroaeroplane here. As
was the case the two preceding days
throngs OF people visited the levee
Yesterday and hundreds came in from
the surrounding country in hopes of
Witnessing fight. But the bes'
they could see was the dismantling
of the machine which had reposed on
the levee at the foot OF Seventeenth
street since Friday afternoon
BY noon II was gone.
LEAVING on THE LAST LOG.
The Clinton Herald of Saturday
has the following concerning Robin
sons departure from that city on
the last log of his trip,
Before making his departure,
Robinson visited the Western Union
Telegraph company's office. where
he sent a message 70 his wife at
Neosho. advising her OF his safe ar
rival at Clinton. He also sent
lengthy message 70 the Curtiss COM
pany. He was then hurried IN Mr..
NcLane's machine 10 the river front.