The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-14
RODGERS TO START
FRIDAY ON LONG
AIR FLIGHT
Aviator is Son-ln-Law of Fred
0. Graves
TRYING FOR BIG PRIZE
VIII Leave New York Tomorrow In
Attempt to Fly to the Pacific
Coast

Calbraith p. Rodgers, the aviator
who will compete for the 500, 900 prize
offered by William R. Hearst In the
ocean to ocean airship contest, which
was officially opened with the flight
OF aviator Bob" Fowler from San
Francisco last Monday, is we'll known
in Bennington. He is a son.in.law of
Fred o, Graves, whose daughter, Miss
Mabel Graves, he married in 1907.
Mr.. Rodgers resided here for short
time before his marriage to Miss
Graves, and even before taking up his
residence here he was frequent Wis
itor in this town. During his resi-
dence in New York city. where he
was interested in aquatic sports, and
where he was a member of several
boat clubs, he became an enthusiastic
automobilist and eagerly welcomed
the opportunities of making the trip
TO Bennington. AS consequence,
the tall, well-built figure OF Rodgers
for he is more than feet tall, and
weighs nearly 200 pounds--was for a
time familiar sight in Bennington.
Mr.. Rodgers. who is 80 years old, is
native of Pittsburgh lie is the
son OF the late Gen. A. Il. Rodgers. He
has always been keenly interested in
machinery and naturally drifted to
the latest thing in locomotion-the
aeroplane. In the early part of last
June he entered the Wright School OF
aviation at Dayton. O. Here he ear.
nestly entered into aeronautics and
exhibited remarkable aptitude in
the handling OF the subject
In the latter part of July he was
pronounced efficient and was gradual
cd. He made his debut as an exhibi
ton aviator at the recent meet in
Chicago When he qualified for the
meet he announced his intention Of
capturing the endurance prizes. Day
after day. regardless of the wind and
weather, he swung persistently ar
round the course. When other ayia
tors refused to ascend because OF the
ways ready to hazard a flight. BY
weather conditions. Rodgers was al
his logged persistence and wonderful
handling OF his machine, Rodgers
the gentle giant OF the air., as he Ii
afeotionately called by his admirers
succeeded in his object and took
Ievery prize offered for endurance and
won for himself name IN aeoronau
teal circles. His winnings in this
lone contest are said TO have amount
cd 10 more than $4,000. In view OF
the fact that he had only been out oil
the Wright brothers school less than
a month and because most OF his com
Ipeitors were veteran aviators, the
Accomplishment OF Rodgers is consid
cred remarkable.
Since the Chicago meet Mr. Rodgers
has been giving exhibition flights al
fairs in various parts OF the country
and has entered in several minor
aviation meets. In many OF these
meets he has won prizes and in all OF
them his skillful manipulation OF his
frail craft has won him much favor.
able comment. Although his appar.
ent disregard of weather conditions,
that would act as deterrent to more
timid bird-men, would suggest reck.
lessness, yet he is considered a care.
full aviator This seems to be borne
out by the fact that he had never met
with a serious accident Rodgers sub
jects his machine to a minute exami-
nation before making a flight, and
this. combined with his knowledge OF
the game. probably accounts for his
singular freedom from the disaster
GUS mishaps that have thus far
proved TO be the bane of aeronautics.
| Mr. Rodgers has been several times
accompanied on these flights by his
wife. A post card containing a pho
tograph Of Mrs. Rodgers and her hus-
band seated in his Model b. Wright
biplane was received here this week.
The picture was taken in Appleton,
Wis, on their descent after success.
ful flight OF 1000 feet altitude BY
accomplishing this feat, Mrs. Rodgers
bears the distinction OF being per-
haps the first woman to have ever
reached this altitude. Like her hus-
band, Mrs. Rodgers thoroughly enjoys
this thrilling sport She shows no
timidity when making a flight In fact
the only concern she apparently has
is for her altitude record, of which
she is Justly proud.
Tomorrow, Friday, "Cal" Rodgers
who claims to be the largest aviator
In the world, will leave New York
city In his Model b. Wright blplane
In an attempt to cross the continent.
OF the half dozen or more contest.
ants, Rodgers win have the longest
route After leaving New York his
itinerary will take him up the Hudson
river to Albany, thence to Buffalo and
then across the lake to Cleveland.
From that city he will set out for
Chicago and through to St Louis. He
will then turn southwark toward
TexaI, cross that state until he
strikes the Southern Pacific railroad,
which he will follow TO Los Angeles,
his destination. All OF his competi.
tors will Fly in tue opposite direction
Barring accidents and unforeseen de.
lays. Rodgers expects to complete the
Journey In one month. He will be
followed by a special train, consisting
OF locomotive and 2 cars. The
train will carry three complete ma
chimes such as he In using, a doctor
1.-TWO machinlsts. several press repre-
sentatlves and a stan Of cooks and