The Detroit times., 1911-08-24
FLIGHT
HALTED BY MOTOR
ACCIDENT
Daring Aviator Is Obliged To De-
scend at Nyack, 2s Miles From
His Destination, and May Not
Fly Again Till Tomorrow.
Flyer, However, in Work Thus Far
Has Set New Mark for Long
Distance Flying.


dent to his motor prevented Harry N.
Atwood from completing his st.
Louls-New York fight today. Af.ey
landing on Hook Mountain, Atwood
came to this city with pieces of the
motor which he said would have 10
be repaired before he could resume
his flight. He said he doubted II no
could fly again now before tomorrow.
He took rooms at local hotel.
| Atwoods actual flying time, from
Castleton to Hook Mountain, was 2
hours, 33 minutes. From st. Louis
to this point he had been In the air
~ hours, IL minutes. His total mile
age to this village is 1,240. He has
2s miles to go to Governors Island,
increasing his total to 1858 miles.
Atwood explained that, as he was
passing around the bend In the river
opposite Hook mountain, he felt his
machine sinking. His motor was
skipping, 80 he steered for the Davies
farm, on the side OF the mountain
shut of his motor and planed to the
ground. Examination showed that
the babbitt metal in the connecting
rod OF his machine had burned out,
putting the engine out OF commits
sion. He telegraphed for machinists
and they went to work on the engine.
They did not think, however, there
was the slightest chance that repairs
could be completed In time for a new
start before tomorrow morning.
Machine o. X. AZ Cold Springs.
COLD SPRINGS. Il. Y, Aug. "a
With a worlds record for cross-coun-
try flying to his credit, and with q
wonderful demonstration of over
water work In q heavier -than-air ma
chine to delight him as the result of
his mornings work, Harry N. Atwood
dropped down In field just outside
OF this village ut 9:42 today to over
haul his biplane and get ready for a
triumphant entry into New York, now
only 81 miles away ins.eft
Maintaining an altitude ranging
from $50 to $50 feet, for the entire
distance, Atwood few from Castleton
to West Point, "a miles, In a direct
line above the surface of the Hudson
river, In one hour and so minutes.
He averaged better than 46 miles an
hour and had planned to land on the
parade ground at the Point, where
several friends, officers In the army,
were 10 have greeted him.
Swooping in from the river In a
giant circle. Atwood found 1t impossi-
Bile to make landing at the Point
and swung back across the river. head
ing northward and landing in an open
field here ten minutes later.
Although Glenn Curtiss was trou-
bled by the air currents along the
river on his famous flight, now eclips-
ed, Atwood had little bother.
His present plan Is to resume Ais
fight this afternoon; fly down the
Hudson to Governors Island, circle
that spot, where he made his original
and then continue to the big racetrack
at Sheepshead Bay. to make a final
landing.
Aviator Gets Good start.
HUDSON, N. Y, Aug. 24.-with
the weather conditions almost per-
feet for his purpose, Atwood started
from Castleton at 7:42 on the last leg
OF his great journey. His mechanics
had worked a good part Of the night,
overhauling his machine and getting
the big metal pontoons, which were
to safeguard the machine and man,
should he have to alight- in the river,
into position on the sides Of the bi-
plane.
Atwood was out OF bed at $3.50, and,
after carefully scrutinizing sky and
horizon. expressed the belief that he
would be able to make New York, 134
miles from Castleton, by mid-after
noon. Even at that early hour the
promise was Of good, although
cloudy day. The wind was coming
briskly out Of the northwest, where Il
would aid the aviator.
After Atwood had had breakfast. he
returned to the ball grounds, where
he was to start. filed his tanks, took
last look at the various parts OF his
machine and climbed into his seat.
II was exactly 7:42 when he jumped
into the air and few seconds later
he had steered over the middle Of the
river and headed his biplane toward
the south.
His speed from the start was a l5-
mile-an-hour clip and he maintained
an altitude ranging from $50 TO 200
feet above the river. There was no
attempt at fancy dips or spurts, but
the big machine was held on It's course
In a distinctly business-like manner.