The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-15

A as planned. V Chicago, August 14.-By flying the 86 miles from St. Louis to Chicago with only two intermediate stops and in an actual flying time of five hours and 43 minutes today, Harry N Atwood, of Bos- ton, believes he has set a pace which will result in his establishing new rec ord on his flight by aeropane from St. Louis to New York and Boston.
 As 1t is Atwood appears to have brok- en the American record for single day flight. The best previous American rec ord was made by Atwood himself when ho flew 14S miles from Atlantic City to Baltimore July 10 1911. The best inter- national cross country record is held by Andre Beaumont, who, in the Paris-Rome contest covered 401 miles in a single day, but in this instance he made three land ings while Atwood today landed only twice.
 Atwood. in a Burgess Wright biplane, left St. Louis at S:05 a. m. He landed in Chicago at 6:1s D. m. His total time between St. Louis and Chicago, counting
  was 10 hours and IA minutes, but his act ual time in the air was five hours and t3 minutes.
 <Atwood's descent into Chicago was thrilling. Sailing in from the southwest. | a lone speck in the clouds, he made di- sectly for the downtown district. and for a time lowered unnoticed over the sky scrapers. Thousands of people were crowded at the lake front, intent upon the flights of the aeroplanes competing in the aviation contest. Atwood ap- peared on the scene a stranger, un- heralded and unexpected except by q few.
 Atwood Arrives
 Suddenly the crowd noticed the on- coming stranger and a voice shouted, That's Atwood from St. Louis" Imme- clately the vast assembly was in an up roar. Two or three of the airmcn sailed out to meet him.
 Coming steadily onward, Atwood steered over the aviation field and circled around it, while several of the rnachncs listed in the meet followed behind as an escort. once around, Atwood descended gracefully, touching the ground for the first time since his stop at Pontiac, Ill.,, 91 miles from Chicago.
 Originally setting 10 days as the maxi mum time for completing the 14eO miles to Boston, Atwood believes with the pace he set today he will be able to materially re- duce that time. He had expected not to be able to reach Chicago before to- morrow, but favorable weather and he excellent working condition of his ma chine induced him to shorten his stops. Iic rSt ctn urlie field 9S miles from St. Louis, after q two hour and 9 minutes flight was to fulfll promise. Instead of remaining therc until 3 D. m.. however he got away two hours earlier. He was scheduled to stop at Bloomington, 1ll, but the crowds as. sembled at his proposed landing place there were so dense he could not find a clear space large enough to land in safety so he swept low. and nodding his head negatively at the people. continued. At Pontiac he descended to replenish his gasoline and lubricating oil
 All that was suffered by the man who thus shot through the air at a speed greater than that of an express train was a slight buzz in his ears, caused by the whirring of his machine.
 Landing on his feet he was as calm as though he were merely a spectator who had dropped around to watch the other aeroplanes.
 Tomorrow morning Atwood will resume his journey eastward. He said he prob ably would take a course along the Lake Shore railroad.
 Atwood. according to an announcement made tonight, will resume his flight to [ New York from the Grant park avia- tion field at 3:3O o'clock tomorrow afternoon He will start out over the t water and will traverse the lower end of Lake Michigan into Indiana.
 Tt was the smoothest, pleasant air trip I have ever taken" said Atwood T really could have reached Chicago sooner, but I spent 15 or 20 minutes sailing around over St. Louis Leaving St. Louis I followed the course of the Mississippi river to Alton. The air currents were splendid and I had not been out long when I saw 1t would be easy going My average altitude was about 800 feet, but I ascended as high as 1900. Sometimes made a mile minute think
 My machine, the one with which I fell into the ocean while attempting flight from Boston to Atlantic City. seemed to be in splendid condition, so hit her up for speed. EN T am in fine shape and will continue the trip in the morning with prospects or having supper many miles east of