New-York tribune., 1911-09-12

1
| Distance from San Francisco, 125 |
miles.
Total fiyinq time, 2 hours Al minutes.
San Francisco. Sept. II.-With the steady
trade winds OF the Pacific at his back.
Robert f. Fowler the first aviator to at
tempt transcontinental flight. sped to-day
up the fertile Sacramento Valley and land
ed at s:ss o'clock tonight at the foot Of
the white ramparts OF the SIerras, the con-
quest Of whose SUBMITS he must achieve.
With only q brief halt at Sacramento for
oil and gasolene. he drove his biplane high
over the rolling foothills and landed with
out an pntoward incident at Auburn, Cal,
1876 miles from his starting point.
Fowler rose from the stadium in Golden
Gate Park at 1:37 p. m. Sweeping first In
broad wingng flight over the surf of the
Pacific his air craft quickly swung east
ward and sred off toward the snow line of
the Sierras With the cheers of thousands
billowinG up to him. he sped over the city
and the warships al anchor in the bay, fol-
lowing the trail first worn by the Argo-
nauts Of A.
mira he flew with the same steadiness that
marked his start. The watches that
checked his progress showed that he was
making steady forty-fve miles an hour.
As he swept high over the dome of the
state Capitol at Sacramento cheering thou
sands in Agricultural Park directed him to
his landing place. After a daring spiral he
settled easily to the ground. pulled the
cotton from his ears and shouted:
We'll. I'm here. boys. What time Is it,"
Covered Ninety Miles in Two Hours.
He was told it was 3:37 o'clock He had
covered the ninety miles Of the first leg OF
the journey in exactly two hours.
1t was a great trip" he said. II had
not the slightest engine trouble, and the
feel OF the air even over CarquInez
Straits was perfect"
He announced that he would continue TO
Auburn tonight, and his mechanicians
who had followed him in a special train
fought their way through the mob about
the machine and prepared for the continua-
tion OF the journey.
While his machine was being groomed
Fowler sought the Capitol and called on
II am delighted TO see YOU" said the Cow
ernor. I'VE all hope most sincerely that
you will reach your destination safely"
Have you any message for the Coy
ernor of New York;" asked Fowler.
"Only yourself" replied the Governor.
You will be our best message from Cali
fornia."
After a hurried meal Fowler returned to
the agricultural field. accompanied by the
Governor He started again at 5:55.
Fifty.four Miles an Hour.
on leaving Sacramento Fowler made the
fastest time of the day. He maintained a
speed of fifty-four miles all hour to Auburn.
II began TO grow dark as he left New
castle, shortly after o'clock. and he de-
decided TO descend at Auburn rather than
risk losing his way in an attempt to reach
Colfax, the stopping place originally sched-
ued
AS he flew over Auburn he shouted 20 the
crowd his intention TO descend, and cir
cled slowly around the dome OF the Placer
County Court House, until a space had
been cleared for him TO alight. lie de
scended without accident at 6:36 p m. and
announced his intention of starting for
Reno at 7 a. m. tomorrow.
crowd Of distinguished persons gath
cred at the stadium I'm San Franciscos big
park TO bid Fowler bon voyage" repre-
sentatives OF the army and navy greeted
him and after trial flight his biplane was
sprinkled with water from the Pacific
Ocean. by James Rolph. jr., director OF
the Panama Pacific Exposition.
His mothers kiss was not the only one
implanted on his lips before he started on
his hazardous Journey AS he passed close
TO The ropes that held back the crowd from
his machine, a pretty young woman threw
her arms about the aviator's neck and
kissed him fervently. Before he could
break away other women had pinned A
votes for women" badge on the breast Of
his leather coat.
Fowler frally escaped. and, blushing furl-
ously. took refuge among his mechanicisns
He continued 10 wear the suffragette
badge however.
Fowler aypects 10 make the transcontl-
mental trip in twenty-siX days. lie VIII
leave Auburn early tomorrow, cross the
mountain range through the treacherous
gusts of the Truckee Pass and land for the
night at Reno.
Preliminary TO his start in a Wright BIZ
plane from this city for New York, Fowler
made flight this morning TO test his ma
chine which proved 10 be under perfect
control He remained in the air ten min
utes. passing out over the ocean and the
Presidio, covering about two and half
miles.
Has Confidence in Machine.
Fowler did not show the slightest un-
easiness as ne directed the preparations
for his fight. He said:
have absolute confidence in my machine
and I'm the engine. OF course. the undertak-
ing IL stupcndouS and no certain prophecy
of success can be made. but ! nave every
hone that | shall reach New York The spe-
cjal train will carry the parts OF three com
plete aeroIlanes. and ! will have every ia
cility at hand for quick repairs IN case or
accident. Crossing the Slerras VIII be me
most dangerous and Difficult: part OF the
undertaking, but ] believe ! will be aple TO
accomplish IL safely. The weather condl-
tions arc perfect and have a pretty thor-
ough knowledge OF the winds ana air cur
rents
Fowler will carry message across the
country from Brigadier General Daniel
Brush, commander of the Department OF
California. to Major General Frederick ID.
Grant. commanding the Department OF the
East. with headquarters I'm Governors ISL
and. n. Y. The message was delivered
few moments before the start by Lieu
tenant julius L. Dodge, aid 10 General
Brush. The navy was represented by
Charles V. Huff. of the San Francisco
naval training station.
Makes Start at 1887 p. M.
Tho engines began 10 whirr at ! 81 O'Clock
this afternoon
..cIear the field" shouted Fowler. as he