New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-23
AV|ATOR'S LUCKY STROLL
Object on Beach He ViCiouSIy
Kicked May Mean Fortune.
SAID TO BE AMBERGRIS
Young Inventor Hurries to Nat
ural History Museum with
Find-Druggist Gives Hope.

While walking along the shore near the
lakewood Heights aviation field, Staten
Island, yesterday morning, Peter Walling.
an aviator and builder of aeroplanes.
found what he believed to be lump OF
ambergris weighing about thirty pounds.
It's value, should it prove to be ambergris,
would be more than $4,000
For several months the young aviator
has been perfectng plans for d ne"
stabilizer for use in aeroplanes. He finally
evolved something which he believed
would overcome the difficulties at present
experienced by ayiators in maintaining
their machines on an even keel. He was
strolling along the beach near the avia-
ton field, bordering the question Of how
he was to raise the amount required to
successfully launch his invention, when
he stumbled against something In his
path
Feeling particularly morose at that no
ment Walling aimed vicious kick at the
object, knocking lump of srayish white
substance to one side In his preoccupa-
ton he continued walking up the beach,
and had gone about a hundred yards be-
fore he noticed that the toe of his boot
was covered with a whitish powder.
Puzzled for moment, the aviator then
remembered the object he had kicked at
so viciOusly few minutes before. lie re-
traced his steps, curious as 10 what the
thing could be. When he found it again
he bent down and examined it more close
~ strong odor emanated from the
stuff, and Walling was sure he had never
seen anything like it before. He lifted il
to his shoulder and carried it back TO
the house and there submitted it to
further examination
Certain that he had found something
out Of the ordinary, Nalling consulted
with several Of the farmers in the neigh
borhood. All sorts Of guesses were haz-
arded as to the nature OF the white, wax
en- lump. but one old resident Of the place
who had been a Long Island whaler i'm his
day suggested it might be "a hunk o
ambersris. SON
His words acted like tonic on Wall
ing. and the aviator ran into his house
and dug from the bookshelves n musty
dictionary. After looking up the deini-
ton ana description of ambergris he be
came positive that the lump he had so
carelessly kicked out Of his way was
worth a fortune.
As soon as he could Walling caught a
train for Manhattan. taking a small
piece of the substance with him. lie
went At once TO the American Museum
OF Natural History, at 18th street and
Central Park West. and showed his dis
coveiy To the chief mineralogist there.
The scientist put the lump under
microscope and submitted it TO various
tests. Then ne announced that the stuff
was not a mineral. but something pc
culiar" and advised Walling to take IL
to the chief chemist at the College of
the city of New York
The aviator did so last night and was
told to return tomorrow 10 learn the re-
suit of the chemical analysis. \ promi-
nent druggist of this city told the avi-
ator the stun was ambergris and was
worth anywhere from $4,000 to 100000
in its crude state.
WallinG is sure his find came 20 him 40
4 christmas present, and now plans TO
equip an aeroplane with his new inven-
ton