The Washington herald., 1911-07-13

To fly or not to fly to-norrow-that is
the question confronting Harry N. At
wood, and high stakes rest upon the OUT
come. Should circumstances compel him
to postpone his flight he feels he may at
least find it possible to fly to the White
House either Saturday or Monday.
The prospect of flight tomorrow Is
beclouded by the probability that his new
machine from the Wright Burgess factory
at Marblehead will not arrive In time II
it reaches College Park to-day, It can
be tuned up for the soaring to the White
Lot tomorrow. If it fails to reach the
aerodrome to-day, however, there is grave
danger that the projected sport win be
postponed.
In the meantime Atwood Is resting up
and enjoying himself. He plans to stay
In Washington until Tuesday. His side
partner, Charles K. Hamilton, found the
allurements OF the city so seductive that
he failed to depart for Atlantic City
yesterday afternoon.
Plans for the Flight.
Plans for the proposed flight and
presentation of the gold medal to At
wood by President Taft were perfected
have the fight from College Park to
the White House grounds precede the
presentation, but II the fight is unavoid-
ably postponed the White House cere-
mony win not be interfered with The
medal may not be ready for presentation
tomorrow, but in that event a dummy
will be used.
The medal will contain on one side
an engraved map Of the route between
Boston and Washington chosen by At
wood, with jewels marking the spots at
which he made landings. The other side
will be suitably inscribed
The Chamber of Commerce will give a
luncheon in honor Of Atwood at noon
tomorrow. The aviator has accepted the
invitation extended to him, and a repre-
sentative gathering has been invited to
meet him, including business, profess
sional, and army men, members OF the
Washington Aero Club, &C.
The young aviator spent yesterday
"skylarking." He made brief trip to
College Park, conferred with some of the
army aviators, and returned to the city.
He called upon President Taft in the
morning, and was felicitated by the Chief
Executive upon his brilliant achievement
in flying from Boston to College Park.
A protracted conference was held upon
the possibility OF the President enjoying
an aerial ride. Fears are entertained by
the occupants Of the White House that
he is altogether too large for safety In
an aeroplane trip, but the young aviator
assured him this difficulty could be over
come easily.
Man of Reticence,
Atwood himself is one of the most
reticent of men, and has little to say
about his flights. His plans for the
future are yet undetermined, although
1t is settled he will enter the big meet
at Grant Park, Chicago, next month, pro
vided the Aero Club of America sees Mt
to grant him a pilots license. The
young flyer feels he has been cheated
out OF a license so far on a mere tech |
nicaIity. After his brilliant Boston
New York fight, in which he broke all
American oross-country records, he
made trial for a pilots license at
Governors Island, n. Y, but failed in
one of the minor technical require |
ments, and the result was that he. ad- |
mittedly a master aviator, has not yet |
been officiaIly recognized by the Aero
Club of America.
Outside of the proposed College Park |
White House flight, It is not probable |
Atwood viii do much flying in WASH |
ington. He realizes there is more glory |
than gold in whatever exploits he in
dulges in here, and, as he is already a |
heavy loser on his flight. he does not |
feel he should be compelled to risk his |
neck further in a losing venture He |
hopes to enter into some Of the many |
meets now being projected in various
sections Of the country. and will try for |
the prizes hung up for some long dis
tance flights, such as the New York
journey.