The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-08-14
OUTLYING
TRAIN, LOSES WAY
IN SMOKE CLOUDS

Washington, Aug. 11.-Murvin Wood,
American aviator who began a
nonstop race with a railroad train
from New York to Washington at 4:S0
a. m. for the American duration, dis
lance and speed record. lost his way
and was forced to land at Gathers
burg. Md, at 9 o'clock. % miles from
his goal. e.
He lost his way while over Balti-
more because Of heavy smoke clouds
and finally was forced to land because
OF engine trouble. He came down from
q height Of 1000 feet and made a good
landing OF the farm OF J. B. Diamond.
on the Gaithersburg pike.
Tells of Mishap.
Wood got to the nearest telephone
and called up Washington to Isl that
his mechanics be sent to put his en-
gtne in condition to resume his flight
landed, demonstrated the efficiency Of
bis monoplane for war purposes be-
fore a number Of army officers and
then begin a return flight to New York
in an attempt to capture the record for
the longest areoplane flight between
sunrise and sunset.
II passed Baltimore away ahead OF
the train" said Wood, and then I ran
pver smoke clouds that were so heavy
could not Q anything. I was fly
Ing about 1000 feet up then and was
going fast. ! could not find my way
DO I came down to about 1000 feet
10 see II that would help out any, but
Il did o and when I got far enough
down to see clearly, 1t was evident
that I was entirely off my course and
then my engine stopped. So I came
Gown and made a good landing, just
Eetting over the telephone wires on
the pike"
,., OUTRAGED Express.
The train Wood was racing and
which had made a nonstop I'll from
New York with guest officials OF the
Aero club and newspapermen, did not
arrive in Washington until $50 o'clock.
Woods assistants, when they learned
Of his mishap, hurried or to Gathers
burg to get his plane In condition to
resume his flight. Wood began his
flight from Hampstead, l. 1. at 4:36
o'clock this morning and at 4:30 the
train started for Washington from Jer-
sey City. Wood was about 10 miles
behind the train, railroad officials said,
when the flight began. Then Wood got
ahead and Sustained his lead, passing
train reached there. From baltimore
to Washington his route was in a
southwesterly direction, over a level
country, but he flew too far to the
west. Army and navy avfators and
other officials assembled at Fort Myer
to see the landing, thought Wood
would have no difficulty in reaching
Washington and cross the Potomac to
the fort after passing Baltimore. be-
aus he had the tall wireless towers
at Arlington to guide him. .
The American records for endurance,
sustained flight and nonstop flying all
are held by Lieut.. Thomas D. Milling,
U. s. A., whose official figures are
$50 miles from Texas City to San
Antonio, Tex, in 3 hours and 10
minutes. He remained In the air fly
ing for / hour and II minutes after
reaching San Antonio, making his en-
durance figures 4 hours and q minutes.
LOST HIS WAY.
Philadelphia, Aug. 11.-Wood was not
seen In Philadelphia and 1t is believed
that at Torresdale, Pa. q few miles
north of here he lost the train took
his course yer the Delaware river and
circled Philadelphia by way IF New
Jersey. 1t is the theory Of railroads
officials that he later recrossed the
river and caught up with the train a
few miles south OF Wilmington, Della.
He circled Wilmington and evidently
passed the train between that city and
Havre De Grace, Md. The latter point
Is 160 miles from New York.