The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-18
MEDALFORATWOOD.
President Taft HOnOrS Oar.
ing Aviator.
GUEST OF THE AERO CLUB
Birdman, After a Flight to the
Capital in the Rain. Receives
Token at the White
House.
GUEST OF THE AERO CLUB

II washington, July 10. - PRESIDENT
Taft received his first aerial visitor
ON Friday afternoon. The president
stood on the rear portico of the White
House as Harry N. Atwood, of Boston,
after circling the Washington monu-
ment. flew directly into the White
House grounds and landed on the
grassy lawn a short distance from the
porticO.
Alighting from the machine. Atwood
walked to where the president stood
and was presented by him with a gold
medal from the Aero club of Washing
ton.
Following the medal presentation,
Atwood re-entered his machine and
after a beautiful start scared away
over the White House fountain and
trees to Potomac park, where he
alishted on the polo field. He return
ed to College Park later in the day.
Atwood flew at express train speed
and landed on the speedway within
eight minutes after leaving the avia-
ton field.
When Atwood arrived at the speed
way he was completely drenched. part
Of the flight having been made through
rain storm. He had to change his
clothing at the New Willard hotel
A large crowd assembled on the
speedway to see him alight Atwood
was the guest at luncheon given by
I The chamber of commerce. He was
presented TO the members by General
Robert Shaw Oliver, assistant secre-
,ary of war. and Charles ]. Bell. OF the
/ Washington Aero club.
After the luncheon Atwood made an
ascent in his aeroplane and flew to
the White House. where President
Taft. in the presence of nearly 100
members Of the Washington Aero
club. presented him with the gold
medal Of the club.
Purchased Hamilton's Aeroplane.
Atwood said Thursday he would pos
itively make his flight, but no aero
plane was at his disposal. and the
Hamilton machine was already taken
apart and ready for shipment. Atwood
came to the aviation field at College
Park and announced to the cores
pondents that he had purchased Ham,
ilton's aeroplane for 1925.
On his first ascent he went up for
nearly 1000 feet and gave a remark
able exhibition of volplaning, diving,
banking and making figure Fights. He
made a sensational dive of over
hundred feet in the air. and so star
tied the medical corps OF the army
aviation school that they hurried q
hand ambulance to the field. feeling
sure the daring aviator would be DASH
ed 10 earth. He fooled them by COM
ing to within thirty feet of the ground
and then. without the least apparent
effort, climbing back 400 feet. Atwood
kept this exhibition up for fifteen min
ites and then made fine landing.
The capitol was reached by Atwood
in about ten minutes. The members
If congress who were in the building,
as well as those in the senate and
nouse Office buildings. hurried outside,
and the aviator was greeted by most
distinguished gathering. lie circled the
capitol building. glided over the Office
buildings, flew around the library OF
congress and around the capitol
grounds and then, like bullet from =
gun, shot down Pennsylvania avenue
in the direction of Potomac park.
Reaching the park. Atwood again
circled around in the air and then
climbed to a thousand feet over the
Washington monument. For a minute
the aeroplane seemed to be perfectly
sdll, and then like a flash Of lightning
Il shot down directly for the top OF
rhe monument. The spectators SILVER
ed, and on all sides persons could be
heard saying that Atwood surely
would be killed.
When the aviator got within ten
feet of the top of the monument he
gracefully righted the aeroplane and
again circled the park. while the
crowd below cheered him again and
again Returning to the monument,
Atwood climbed to about 500 feet from
the top and then made a daring and
beautiful spiral glide around it, nearly
touching the earth as he finished, but
he did not land, and again the ma
chine went up in the air