The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-05
". E. BURNHAM
 PILOT FOR LOST
 AvIATORS HERE
Jumps up on Big Truck and Steers Bewildered French
 men Around Town

William E. Burnham, the retired manufactures, figured publicly last night in a new role, that of a pilot for Earle L. Ovington's three French mechanicians, who had in tow his 70 horsepower Bleriot monoplane, in which he was scheduled to fly at Steeplechase Island this afternoon. The flying machine was on a large automobile truck and it was convey ed from Belmont Park to this city.
 The truck with the flying machine aboard was driven through Fairfield avenue and up Main street to the Stratfield. The crew aboard were lost their bearings. MT. Ovington was not in the hotel. w. A Parsons, who was we'll known in this city 20 years ago as a star polo player, and who had played second rush on a polo team backed by Mr. Burnham, was in the lobby of the hotel.
 He and MT. Burnham met by chance, recognized each other and recalled old times, it being their first meet ing in a score of years. MT. Par sons was perpiexed and MT. Burnham saw it. and said he would help him any way that was in his power. II don't know the streets here,' said MT. Parsons, "and we must get this ma chine stored in a garage. That rall- road viaduct is in the way and I don't know how we can get to the East Side.''
 Calling for his fur coat, MT. Burn ham was hoisted up on the auto truck and he piloted the chauffeur up Main street to Bulls Head, to North Wash ington avenue and across the Berk- shire bridge to Berkshire avenue, to East Main street, to Barnum avenue, to Central avenue, where there is a bridge over the railroad tracks, down Central avenue to Stratford avenue. and to Ford's garage near the corner of Pembroke street.
 Many citizens saw MT. Burnham high up on the automobile truck, with a classy looking flying machine by his side. They marvelled at the sight. speculated as to where MT planning to do. All sorts of reports got abroad, some of them reached the Stratfield. and for a time MT. Burn hams folks in his suite in the hotel were a little alarmed. It could not be- they soliloquiZed that we was go- ing to take a night fli~ht in an aero- plane He has contracted the avia- tion fever and has been talking about flying machine for some time. The suspense was relieved shortly after 3 o'clock when he returned in an auto mobile with MT. Ford, the proprietor of the garage MT. Burnham did not leave the machine until he had super vised its transfer safely inside the garage
 Of the three French mechanicians. one of them could not speak a word of English, while the chauffeur of the truck spoke with such a strong Eng fish accent that MT. Burnham could not understand him. He enjoyed the odd experience and the anxiety of his friends, and later in the evening MT. Burnham met MT Ovington, who thanked him for his assistance. Ovington had been about the city in- quiring about his bird, as he calls the machine, and was greatly alarm ed himself, for he had a telegram saying that the machine would be in Bridgeport by o'clock at the latest.
 While he was securing the garages of the city Mir Burnham was direct ing the crew of the truck where to go, and was riding through the outskirts of the city, doing his best to direct the men which corners to turn and what to do. MT. Burnham will be MT. Ovington's guest at the island this He has been a friend of Captain Boy toms for several years and his first thought, when he found the Owing ton party in trouble, was to do ser vice for the captain. The incident was generally discussed at the Strat- field last night, and MT. Burnham was haled on all sides as a first class aviator of flying machine on automo- bileS