New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-03
Plenty of Incidents Prevented
Flight from Becoming
Monotonous.

Parry y. ATwOOp'S sudden proni-
- hence IN aviation. eliminating when
Il Il the young New Highlander sailen
down the west shore Of Manhattan Island
70 the end Of his l.2s5-mile flight from 81
Louis. IS comparable 10 nothing so much
IS to the rapid evolution OF the sport
itself.
Four months ago this young man, who
now holds the worlds record for sustained
long distance 'cross-country flight, was
known only to his immediate circle or
friends. acquaintances and customers as
the proprietor OF a garage IN SwaInpscott'
Mass He was an expert machinist. how
ever. and his fame as such brought him
into contact with one established aviator
about a year ago.
Atwood had then developed q severe
case OF flyers fever" lie was eagerly
watching the practice and learning the
theories OF the game OF conduerlng the
air. Claude Grahane- White. the English
birdman who won the worlds speed cham
pionship at Belmont Park last fall, was In
,he vicinity, flying at the FIRST Harvard
Boston meet at Squantum.
Wanting some particularly careful work
on some small parts OF the machinery OF
one of his aeroplanes. Grahane-White went
20 AtwOOd's garage on the Recommended
ton Of a friend. The Englishman eX-
planned the details Of the job in half
doubtful way. hesitating 70 intrust II 10
such a boy. and wondering whether the
youthful garage keeper could possibly be
the expert recommended
Il say now, do you think you can DO II
thar way" Grahame-White wanted TO
know.
.Oh. yes. thatu be all right. III attend
10 it, replied Atwood easily.
Then Grahame-White did some further
explaining. He said this was no matter OF
an automobile gearing. but an intricate
part OF his pet aerOplauc, and hfe-and-
oeath risk was involved.
yes. ] know you" Atwood Interrupted
land 1 know just what this IS fo-' and
how important il is III have 1t ready for
your Bleriot by tomorrow morning
Well. the job was done In time and il was
done right. The Euzlishman was some
what surprised. but 10 is safe TO say that
nc was not half as much surprised as ne
Will bc 10 learn that this young garage
proprietor who so breeZuy assured him as
TO his repair work Us now one of his chief
rivals IN the skies.
Atwood thought Of Inc incident while he
was gliding down the Hudson passing
RhiuecHT the other day and noted by the
signboard Of the little railroad station that
he had Just established new world
record i'm long distance aviation. Follow
Ing his landing i'm Upper Nyack he d.
care to talk much. But an inquiry as~to
his sensations ON smashing the worlds
record drew a spark
"Nhr. to- tell the TRUTH laughed At
wood 'I was thinking how surprised Mr..
C;rahame-W White would be TO learn that tie
fellow who attended 20 his little repair job
was dolns a flying stunt himself now
which shows that Atwood is still pretty
much Of a boy.
Apart from his youthful appearance the
acroplauist has another popularity not gen
orally associated with men who chum with
oily machinery. and that is his freshness.
Not usin- the word in its slansy sense, but
literally. this newest star in aviation IS ap-
rareutly always spick, span and clean.