The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-07-06
AVIATOR IN GREAT
FLIGHT OVER THE
ROOFS OF GOTHAM
Atwood Makes Trip From New
London, Circles Mighty Tow
er and Lands in Safety.

New York. July 3.-One of the most
spectacular flights Of aviation was
ended at Governors Island this morn
ing by Harry N. Atwood with a Won
derrul half circle about the Singer tow
er. almost grazing the roofs Of the sky
scrapers below. Nothing so daring has
ever been attempted by any aviator be-
fore. In France the Eiffel tower has
been circled, but the battling cross cur.
rents from canyons and cliffs Of lower
Manhattan island had hitherto daunted
all American aviators.
Atwood rose from New London at
minutes past this morning, with the
intention OF flying down the Connecti-
cut shore and crossing Long island
sound to the aviation field at Mineola.
When he got into the air he found his
motor humming so steadily and the air
currents so favorable that his conf
dence grew and instead of crossing the
sound he turned inland off Mount Yer
non. lowered like a falcon to reconnoi-
ter and headed for He'll Gate and the
mouth of the East river.
Crest Danger Of Feat.
Below the aviator lay an uninter-
ruptod stretch OF roof tops to touch any
one OF which would mean instant de-
situation. Below him stretched the
Narrow and tortuous cross Of the river
spanned by four lofty bridges. AS IL
playing with his perils. Atwood crossed
the river to Long Island city, near the
Williamsburg bridge, turned back to
Manhattan island, crossing the river a
second time, flew over the city at no
great altitude to the lower end OF the
Island, circled the Singer tower, de-
fected his course past Trinity church
and eastward south of the Liberty
tower and the new Bankers Trust
building to Wall street, and lowered In
smooth spirals for moment over the
amazed curb brokers in Broad street,
below.
Hitherto It had been a principle
strictly held to by all aviators that
whenever there was a dangerous spot
to cross, the higher one could rise, the
safer. But Atwood made his turn Of
the Singer tower at height Of SIS
feet from the street, little more than
80 feet below the pinnacle Of the tour,
and barely above the Jagged Gothic
roof of the City Investment building,
directly below and beside the tower.
The fluttering flag at the top of the
tower showed there was a wind blow
Ing Of perhaps 10 to 90 miles an hour
not enough to bother Atwood in his
steady-going Wright-Burgess aero
plane.
Atwood's flight today isreally a con-
tinuation of his flight yesterday from
Squantum field, Boston, to New Lon
don. His distance then was 1876 miles,
covered in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The best previous record was LOG miles
made by p. G. Parmalee, Wright
pupil, with Lieutenant Foulois, U. 8.
A, as q passenger.
Atwood carried his mechanician for
a companion yesterday, but did not re-
peat the feat today. His distance this
morning, estimated from the map, waa
122 miles and his time 3 hours and 20
minutes.
At Bridgeport Atwood descended
within easy sight of the amazed pas
sengers Of moving train, crossed the
tracks In front OF the locomotive, and
repeating his performance, made three
complete circles Of the train before he
resumed his southwestward course.