The Washington times., 1911-07-16
ATWOOD WILL FLY
THIS EVENING IF
WEATHER IS RIGHT
Aviator Wires Mother He Is
on Way to Capital-May
Make Flight.

Harry n. Atwood has telegraphed his
mother that he will reach Washington
this afternoon at S:25 o'clock from At
lantic City, where he went on Saturday
to make arrangements to ship the aero
plane which was damaged when he
made his first start from there to Wash
ington.
The machine which he recently pur-
chased, the Moth, from Hamilton, is on
the polo grounds at Potomac Park, and
II the weather conditions permit, At
wood will make a flight to College Park
this evening and leave the machine in
the Government hangar on the aviation
field.
He has been away from Washington
since Friday night, last, when he left
after the presentation ceremony at the
White House for a hurried trip to New
York. He left that city yesterday and
spent last night and part of today at
Atlantic City. Mrs. S. S. Atwood, his
mother, remained here at the New VIII
lard.
Strong Hold Here.
That aerial navigation has taken
strong hold on the people of Washing
ton was clearly shown yesterday after
oon, when the largest number of vis-
itors since the army aviation school was
opened at College Park journeyed to the
flying field, and remained there all aft
eronoon. People began arriving early
in the morning and remained all day.
In the afternoon they seemed to come
from all directions. and IN all sort Of
conVeyanCeS.
Those who visited the field yesterday
were not disappointed. because there
was some really remarkable flying in a
heavy wind which made the machines
go faster than a mile a minute at
times
There was a dash of fun and a spice
of novelty given to the flying yesterday
afternoon, when, most unexpected to
both the officers of the school and the
visitors, a race took place with cow
and horse trying 10 distance tie Wright
aeroplane. There may be some ques-
ton as to whether the equine or air
craft won, but there Is no doubt that
the COW was distanCed in the thrilling
race, because, after the third lap, the
COW calmly gave up. all chance of both
fame and glory by ANONYMOUSLY lying
made a hurdle over her, and the aero
plane sailed above her to fully COM
plete her disgrace.
Horse Dislikes Them.
This unexpected race came about be-
cause the charger of Lieutenant Mill
ing, which reached the aviation field
yesterday from Fort Leavenworth, does
not like aeroplanes And so to bring
about a better understanding between
the horse and the airship a sergeant
led the animal out on the field to be-
come acquainted with the machine In
Of
sented ii and when the aerOplane
started up with Lieutenant Arnold and
Captain Chandler, the horse started to
do likewise. on his hind legs stood
the hroSe and off the ground went the
soldier that was attached to his halter.
Then the halter broke and the soldier
volpaned TO earth while the horse
started on a race across the aviation
field, making several figure eights.
At the upper end of the field the
horse started the cow and that bovine
spurted adong ahead of the horse, but
the COW soon quit, while both the horse
and aeroplane sailed over her.
Wind Blocks Flight.
It was the intention of the officers
to make a fight from College Park to
Fort Myer yesterday afternoon but
the wind was what aviators term both
nasty and gusty, so it was thought un-
wise to attempt the flight, which, how
ever will he made during the present
week. There were six aeroplane flights
yesterday afternoon and four in the
morning. Both Captain Chandler and
Lieutenant Kirkland handled the air
craft and did some good work.
In a stiff breeze Lieutenant Arnold
took his biplane up 800 feet and re-
mained in the air fifteen minutes. The
remarkable banking of Lieutenant Mill
ing yesterday and the short curves he
made were features of the days work
Warned by the accident to Mars at
Erie both Lieutenants Arnold and Mill
ing gave special attention yesterday to
landing after stopping their engines.
This work Of the officers in making
safe landings and receiving instruction
about the proper way to handle a ma
chine in the air in case of an accident
is one of the most important features
in the instruction now being given at
the army aviation school.