New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-15

Chicago, Aug. 14-By flying the 2s6
miles from St Louis 10 Chicago. with
only two intermediate stops. and in an
actual flying time Of five hours and forty
three minutes to-day, Harry y. Atwood
Of Boston, believes he has set a pace
which will result in his establishing a
new record on his fight by aeroplane
from st. Louis TO New York and Bos-
ton.
As it IS Atwood appears TO have
broken the American record for a single
day fight. The best previous American
record was made by Atwood himself
when he flew 14S miles from Atlantic
City 10 Baltimore on July 10. 1911. The
best International 'cross-country record
* held by Andre Beaumont, who. in the
Paris-Rome contest, covered 401 miles
in a single day, but in this instance he
made three landings, while Atwood to-
day landed only twice between start and
finish.
Atwood said tonight that he was
making this long distance fight as 4
preliminary to a fight from the Atlantic
to the Pacific coast.
Atwood. in a Wright biplane,
left II. Louis at 500 a. m. He landed
in Chicago at 6:19 p. m. His total time
between st. Louis and Chicago. counting
the delays occasioned by the two stops,
was 10 hours and II minutes, but his
actual time in the air computed by de-
Quoting the delays, was . hours and 43
minutes, as already told.
Atwoods descent into Chicago was
thrilling. Sailing in from the south
west. lone speck in the clouds. he made
direct for the downtown district, and
for a time hovered unnoticed in the dis
tance over the skyscrapers Thousands
OF people were crowded at the lake front
intent on the flights Of the aeroplanes
competing in the aviation contests. At
wood appeared on the scene as a stran-
ger. unheralded, and expected only by
few.
Crowd Sees Aviator Coming.
Immediately the vast assembly was in
an uproar Two or three Of the airmen
sailed out to meet Atwood.
As Atwood approached the field the
crowd cheered wildly. The aviator made
a rapid descent toward the edge Of the
lake and sailed gracefully back Of the
score board. He turned the north end
Of the field and was about 10 alight
in front Of the judges, when he changed
his mind and few around the field again,
accompanied by the other flyers. He
landed at go p. N. in front Of the
Judges stand, touching the ground for
the first time since his stop at Pontiac.
I'll ninetv-one miles from Chicago, and
was Immediately surrounded by a cheer
ing crowd. who bore him from the leld
on their shoulders.
Originally setting ten days as the
maximum time for completing the l'4oo
niles IN Boston. Atwood believes by the
mace he set to-day he. will be able TO
materially reduce that time. He had ex-
nected not to be able 70 reach Chicago
before tomorrow. but favorable weather
and the excellent working condition OF
his machine induced him TO shorten his
stops. His first stop. which was made
AT Springfield. ninety-eight miles from
81. Louis. after a fight Of two hours and
tyyentv-fve minutes. was TO fulfil
nroroise. Instead Of remaining there
until 2 p. m, however, he got away two
hours earlier He was scheduled 10 stop
al Bloomington. H.. but the crowds as
sembled at his proposed landing place
were so dense he could not find clear
space enough to land in safety so he
swept low and shaking his head mega
lively at the people. continued. AT Pom
tiac he descended TO replenish his supply
Of gasolene and lubricating oil
Atwood's Story of Flight.
1T was the smoothest, pleasantest air
trip I have ever taken said Atwood,
after he had been carried off the field
on the shoulders OF the aviation officials
and after the whole crowd had given
him q welcome Il really could have
reached here sooner. but I spent fifteen
or twenty minutes sailing around over
ST. Louis Leaving 81. Louis, I followed
the course OF the Mississippi River to
Alton. The air currents were splendid,
and I had not been ont long when I saw
il would be easy going Ny altitude was
about 500 feet. but probably ascended
as high as 1900. Sometimes l made a
mile minute. think.
MY machine. which is the same one
that fell into the ocean with while at
tempting a flight from Boston 20 Allan
tic CITY. seemed 10 be in splendid condi-
ton. SO / hit her up for speed. As
went high over the farms and then
swooped low whenever l saw village
or town below, it was joyous TO see how
the people turned out and attempted 10
shout messages Of encouragement
reached Springfield at 1870. effecting
landing four minutes later, far ahead OF
the time | had allowed
After Iunching at Springfield ! said
Ne for supper in Chicago. So / got
here experiencing the only hint OF bad
weather when | skinned over the tall
buildings and caught the puns OF wines
from the lake. | am IN iine shape anu
,or,iu.ct. on srcCad .1.e.