Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-21

for inferment.
machine, and many tried to break
through the Gordon of police in hopes
of shaking hands with the aerial nav
igator. Some succeeded
A taxicab awaited Robinson's COM
ing, and he was escorted TO the Rock
Island club by President H. E Cas-
teel and Vice President c. r. Nourse.
In the meantime 1t was with difficult
ty that the crowd was restrained from
injuring the hydro-aeroplane. Every
one wanted TO examine it and put
his name on it and the police guards
were kept busy. Boat load after boat
load of Davenporters came over on the
ferry TO see the machine. The first
trip after the alighting was so heavy
that the boat was sunk nearly to its
gunwales.
ROBINSON INTERVENE
The aviator talked freely to
a representative of The Argus concern
ing his flight down the river. He re-
marked about the high stage of wat
er and said that in places the river
is spread out over the country for
miles On some occasions he has been
five miles away from the channel and
yet over the waters of the Mississippi.
The most beautiful panorama I ever
saw" he said opened up TO my gaze
as | passed over the big buildings
several miles up the river (WatertOwn
valley with silvery cords of water on
three sides. To all appearances there
was but one big city extending from
the Mississippi TO Rock river and from
above the community makes a fine
appearance
Il have never seen a more fertile
looking country or a more prosperous
appearing farming community than
lies between this city and Fulton.
81 had most unique experience short
ly before alighting in Rock Island and
| am at loss to explain it. While
fully 1000 feet in the air, | ran into
huge veil Of something which re-
sembled a spider web, but if there are
aerial spiders at that heighth, have
yet to hear Of them
DESCRIPTION OF MACHINE.
The hydro-aeroplane in which Robin
son is making his sensational fight,
Is similar in every way TO the Curlss
devices which have appeared here
before, except for the pOntoons at
the base. These are quite interesting
The main pontoon is in the center OF
the machine. II resembles a big sled
~
whole length. When il strikes the
water. the machine rides on this air
tight metal. Tubes at the tips of the
wings of the aeroplane keep the de
wise from tipping.
The complete outfit with the aviator
and his mail pouch aboard weighs
just about 1000 pounds. The main
pontoon weighs 40 and the engine
something over 500. Robinson himself
weighs 124 pounds exclusive OF his
toys. His head covering by the way,
is a padded football headgear, the pad
ding serving TO keep his head warm
while he is up in the cold atmosphere.
GREETINGS RETURNED.
In reply 10 the letter brought to The
Argus by Robinson yesterday via aero
route. in which w c. Eastland, city
editor OF the Clinton Herald sent greet
ings TO the Rock Island Argus, the fol
lowing was sent back at once via the
usual route:
Rock Island Ill. Oct. 90. ISL
w c Eastland, City Editor Clinton
Herald. Clinton. Iowa-My Dear Mr. /
Eastland: The Argus thanks the Gin /
ton Herald for its cordial message
via the first hydro-aeroplane mail
rOute--Clinton 10 Rock Island. Hugh F.
Robinson aviator-and hopes some day
TO greet you by wireless.
Robinson arrived without incident Il
3:56. and may remain over Saturday. F.,
Fraternally, Ralph D. MacManus, City I
Editor"
STARTS CHAIN OF LETTERS
When Aviator Robinson leaves here
he will carry with him a letter to the
city editor of the Muscatine Journal .
From Nuscatine another letter will
doubtless be taken 10 Burlington and .
il is believed that a chain OF letters
from city 70 city will mark his course
70 the gulf.
RODGERS IL STRANDED.
Austin. Tex. Oct. 21-Ayiator
Rodgers is stranded : miles south
of Austin. Texas. in the midst of
west Texas 'noTtheT. with the
probability that he would not be
able TO continue his fight today