Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-09-22

~ H"t PSSSN NNht ~
his course along the line of the
Erie railroad for MiddIetown, N.
New York, Sept. 14.-Work had
barely begun this morning in the busy
sky scrapcrs OF New York when
James ]. Ward lifted his bipIane from
Governors island and started across the
continent in the path of the un. 1t
was sos a. n. when the bOyish aviator
he is only % years old and looks
yOunGcr-rose from the level stretch Of
land reclaimed from the sea at that
lower end Of the island, which offers
the best place in the city for the start
OF close Of a flight.
Ward is the second competitor to try
for the prize Of $50. 900 offered by
WilliamI r. Hearst for the quickest
flight from coast to coast and the first
to start on the westward route. To
win he much reach Los Angeles or
San Francisco IN 80 days. Robert G..
Fowler has already started from San
Francisco.
A b,isC 20 miles breeze from the
northwest was huttering the flags over
the buildings OF the government mill
tarT post and directly against it Ward
must Gv the first stage OF his journey.
St'rtt2T with the wind behind him.
he turned at the lower end OF the island
ana eat1c humming back, rising high
over the bav and heading across the
mouth Of the Hudson river for Jersey
City.
Locomotive His Pilot.
on the west bank of the river he
picked up the flag deCkod locomotive
waiting at the Erie station to pilot him
oyer the maize of tracks across the
H~2CHoMSICk marshes and Then settled
into his course above the main line Of
tn" Erie railroad. His destination this
morning and his first scheduled stop
"%G A!!5a!etown. n. V, IS miles away.
From Middlotown Ward planned to
follow the Erie to Buffalo. Mcchan-
icians with extra parts and oil await
him at CaiicOon, n. Y, and Susequ-
anna, Pa, and at the latter place he
hoped to spend the night.
A group Of about 100 saw the start
at Governors island. Among them
was the aviatOr's wife, who will fol-
low with a party Of friends at 3 p. m,
and hopes to meet him at Susquenna
this evening.
u don't expect to make much time
against this wind" Ward said, while
the helpers were Cranking up his ma
chine.
Just before the young aviator
jumped into his seat, Major General
- VI liz AIpGl llCl
Of the east, rode up with two aids and
handed him a letter to the commander
of the military post at Los Angeles,
Cal.
AS soon as he got clear of the
island, Ward mounted rapidly. The
air was clear, and expecting no diff
ficulty in picking out his land marks,
he said he expected to make most OF
the Journey at a height of about 1000
feet.
Against the wind, his so horse pow
er engine can make about As miles an
hour. If the wind changes he will do
considerably better. Ward carries Is
gallons Of gasOline-enough to take
him about $50 miles.
Fowler to Start Again.
Alta, Cal, Sept. 13.-Undismayed by
the wreck Of his machine and his
slight injuries, Aviator Fowler already
is preparing to resume his journey
across the continent. All necessary
parts for the repair of the bi-plane
are at Ogden, and as soon as the
mechanIcians arrive from Reno the
airship will be taken TO COlfaX, where
repairs are being made. Fowler will
start the instant the craft is put in
order.
Swarms of souvenir hunters swoOped
down upon the Inflated biplane and
before the arrival Of Constable Wago-
ner, of Alta, who made one arrest, al
most dismantled the wreck. One man
attempted to make off with FOwler's
sWeat and two shirts.