The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-15

broken the American record for
single days flight The best previous
American record was made by Atwood
himself when he flew 14S miles from
Atlantic City to Baltimore July 10, 1911.
The best international cross country
record is held by Andre Beaumont, who
in the Paris Rome contest. covered 401
miles in a single day. but in this in
stance he made three landings. while
Atwood landed only twice between
start and finish.
He landed in Chicago at 6:19 p. m.
His total time between St. Louis and
Chicago, counting delays occasiOned by
the two stops, was 10 hours and IA min
utes but his actual time in the air
computed by deducting the delays, was
hours and 43 minutes. This, Atwood
asserts. is 8 hours and - minutes less
than the scheduled time for express
trains for the same distance.
Descent Was Thrilling.
Atwood's descent into Chicago was
thrilling Sailing in from the south
west a lone speck in the clouds, he
made a direct line for the down town
district and for a time lowered un-
noticed in the distance over the sky
scrapers.
Thousands of people were crowded at
the lake front intent upon the flights
of the aerOplanes competing in the
aviation contests. Atwood appeared on
the scene as a stranger, unheralded
and expected only by a. few
Suddenly the crowd noticed the on
coming stranger and a voice shouted
That's Atwood from st. Louis"
Immediately the vast assembly was
in an uproar Two or three of the air
men sailed out to meet Atwood
Coming steadily onward. Atwood
steered over the aviation field and cir -
cled around it while several of the ma
chimes listed in the meet followed be-
hind as an escort.
once around. Atwood descended
gracefully, touching the ground for the
first time since his stop at Pontiac
Ill, 81 miles from Chicago.
Originally setting 10 days as the max
1mum time for completing the 146O
miles to Boston, Atwood believes by the
pace he set he will be able to materially
reduce that estimate. He had expected
that he would not be able to reach Chi
cago before today, but favorable wealth
er and the excellent working condition
Of his machine induced him to shorten
his stops.
1t Was Nice Trip.
All that was suffered by the man
who thus sailed through the air at a
speed greater than that of an express
train was a slight buzz in his ears,
caused by the chugging of his engine.
Landed on his feet, he was as calm as
though he We're merely a spectator
N no Hdu UTOppBu III 10 WdLCn the
other aeroplanes.
1T was the smoothest. pleasantest
air trip have ever made" said At
wood, after he had been carried off the
field on the shoulders of the aviation
officials and after the whole crowd had
given him a welcome.
7 really could have reached here
sooner. but I spent fifteen or twenty
minutes sailing around over st. Louis.
Leaving st. Louis. I followed the
course of the Mississippi river to AL
ton. The air currents were splendid
and I had not been out long till 1 saw
1t would be easy going
MY average altitude was about 500
feet. but I probably ascended as high
is 1900. Sometimes I made a mile a
minute. 7 think. Ny machine. which
rs the same one that I fell into the
ocean with while attempting a fight
from Boston to Atlantic City, seemed
10 be in splendid condition, so I hit
her up for speed AS I went high over
the farms and then swooped low
whenever I saw a village or town
ahead, it was joyous to see how the
people turned out and attempted to
shout messages of encouragement.