The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-03-08
STORY OF WORLD
RECORD BREAKING
FLIGHT IS TOLD
Successful Aviator Writes Letter to
Friend Describing His
Trip.
FORMERLY RESIDED AT
ANNA AND KNOWN HERE
Probably Broke Six Worlds Records
Best Flyer in the Wright
Camp.
(Anna Talk

the late Taylor Dodd, to Walter
Grear, of this city, gives most lit
terestiag story of his worlds record
breaking aeroplane flight from san
Diego. California. where the U. ;.
signal corps aviation station IS 10
Gated. He says:
Dear Mr.. Grear: Your letter of
the 18th, received today and 1t has
given me more pleasure than al CT
the rest of the congratulations com
bined, for the old saying about "A
prophet is not without honor, ca
cept In his own country" Is almost
true to life Last Monday ! mailed
you. a clipping from the San Diego
Union. which by the way cussed mo
out foT not letting them know about
my proposed trip so that they could
have pictures ready, and have men
on the job to report everything.
have been under training since June
1913. and made my first flight alone
last September. Since Ellington ami
Kelly were killed last November
have been the senior flyer here in
the Wright camp. and made my
first flight In the tractor about the
first of the year. MY super-abund-
ance of caution in the beginning
created the impression that | was
not adapted for flying. for not more
than one in ten are adapted, ply
sically and mentally. My conf
dence grew with my knowledge, I'M
til now | make flight in the same
way that person would take an
auto ride, and without any more
nervous strain; that is il know
the machine and am alone. With a
passenger, the strain is very great,
for not only do | have my own life
in my hands, literally, as we'll az
figuratiyely, but also the passen-
gers life, and it is a very great re-
sponsibility. and felt every moment.
Since VIC have had the tractors, ca
tractor Is an aeroplane with the pro-
peller in 'front.', | have studied them
had the motors all apart, flown
them, and practiced until l knew ev.
cry little within and popularity oil
their action, and could land within
a foot or so of a mark from 5000
feet with dead engine. All this be
fore ! thought of asking permissioin
for this trip. | also knew Just how
much oil and gasoline they used pei
hour, and the speed in miles pei
hour. | made up a map for the Fro
posed flight from Geological Maps
and studied the country with mag
nifying glass, almost From IN.
study of the maps and air condition.
/ was able to mark upon the map,
the kind of air troubles that
would lie likely to encounter, an,
every one of my notes was correct
Mary. who is out here with me
Keeping house for me. was the only
person that / told of my careful
preparations, and upon Friday | tolC
Capt. Cowan that | was ready for
,cross-conntry trip, and desired al
thority to use my judgment as [.
what intended to do, stating tina
wished to fly to Los Angeles an,
return without landing, with pass
enger. In spite of the fact that Pos
mad been killed on Monday, he hat
enough confidence in my judgmcn
to grant the authority, but suggest
ed that ! take an officer with me a
passenger. I explained that woui
have more confidence with Sgt. Mar
Gus, whom | had trained, and VIII
knew LIE and my methods, than wit
any of the officers, except Fouloi
and that | did not think it right fc
both Foulois and myself to ever gt
Into a machine together, for just
present the loss of both of us wouI
be a very bad thing for the Aviatic
Corps, for Foulois is the Organig
ton Man, and | am the angince
and it would take some months
train two men to take our place
II both We're killed. He accepted Il
reasoning, and told me that | mig
take whoever | desired, Marcus
thief II my crew. and as the entl
crew wanted TO 60. he was the o
selected His work consisted
turning tho map. taking the ensi
speed, and keeping tab on the gas
line. He is not a pilot, and con
not help me any on the driving
the machine. Ifnt knew that Ma
Gus. understood tho Importance
everything that asked, and h,
perfect confidence in his ability
give nlt lie correct illTermatio