Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-08
Aviator Leads in Contest
From New York to
Washington.
BUT CLOUDS STOP HIM
Spectacular Test of Speed Made
Under Auspices of New
York Aero Club.

Washington, D. c., Aug. SC. Muir
win Wood, the American aviator, who
began a nonstop race with a railroad
train from New York to Washington
at 4:30 this morning, for the American
duration distance, and speed record,
lost his way and was forced to land
at GaithersOurg, Maryland, at 8
o clock, % miles from the goal. He
lost his way over Maryland because
of heavy "somke" clouds, and was fin
ally forced to land because of engine
trouble.
He came down from height of 1000
feet, and made a good landing on the
farm of J. B. Diamond, on the Gathers
burg pike without dam.ge to his mon
oplane or himself.
SENDS FOR MECHANIC.
When he landed he telephoned to
Washington that his mechanic be sent
to Gaithersburg TO put his engine in
condition so that he could resume his
fight to Fort Meyer, where he was
TO have landed and demonstrate the
efficiency of the monoplane for war
purposes before a number of army Off
GERS. After doing this he will begin
his return fight to New York and at
tempt to capture the record for the
longest aeroplane fight between sun
rise and SIlusat
AHEAD OF TRAIN.
81 passed Baltimore away ahead of
the train" said Wood when he re-
ported his landing over telephone,
then I ran over smoke clouds and
could not see anything. l was flying
1000 feet up, and going fast I
couldn't find the way so | came down
about 1000 feet to see if that would
! help any. but it did not, and when |
got far enough down to see clearly it
was evident | was entirely of of my
course. Then NY engine stopped SO
/ came down and made landing"
HAD A HANDICAP.
Wood set out from Hampstead
Plains, Long Island, at 1886 this morn
! ing to race with a Pennsylvania rail
road train, which left Jersey City al
AGO. Woods hoped TO overcome the
handicap of 10 miles distance and six
minutes time which the train had
The train was at Washington, 215
miles, at $50.
RECORD HELD BY ARMY OFFICER.
American records for endurance
sustained fight and nonstop flying
all are held by Lieutenant Thomas
Milling. u. S. A, whose official figures
are $50 miles, Texas City to San An
tonic, Texas. in hours and 10 min
utes. He remained in the air. flying
] hour and II minutes after reaching
San Antonio, making the endurance
figures hours, 81 minutes.
TRAIN DID NOT STOP.
The train Wood was racing anc
which had made a nonstop run from
New York with guests and officials o
the Aero club and newspapermen, di,
not arrive at Washington until 9:5U
Wood was about 10 miles behind tn.
train, railroad officials said. when tn,
train started for Washington from
Jersey City. He passed over Balti
more 80 minutes before the trai,
reached there.
LOST ALL THE WAY.
Telling the story of his fight, Wood
said: Il was lost almost the minute
started Getting across New York ha1
Dor l ran into a thick fog and coul,
not tell if | was over land or water
Engine trouble developed before l wa
in the air Is minutes. II cleared u
soon and / went over the harbor q
5000 feet, riding over the fog banks
, did not see the special train one
, in all my fight, and not once did
, see railroad tracks that ! was sur
were the Pennsylvania
. ENGINE IN BAD SHAPE.
After the mechanics looked at tn
5 engine, Woods gave up the plans fo
, the return fight to New York toda!
but hoped to continue to Fort Meye
Woods claims total flying distanc
I of 265 miles breaking the record {
}. sustained fight between two points.
: CLAIMS NONSTOP RECORD.
Al Wood, in a statement, claimed b
y had broken the American nonstop re
: ord by two points. Il had engine troI
o BILE all the way" said he, which mad
It hard to keep desirable altitud
j At Havre De Grace l reached an alt
/ tude of 1850 feet and only hard luc
r prevented me breaking the records
I set ont to cantura"