Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-03
Greensboro Prodigy CooIly
Turns Down $4,000 Offer
for a 0ne-PaSSenger Air
plane Invention

GeEius has tiptoed through the front
gate at Fort Mcpherson in the person of
Richard Hillman Harris, of Greensboro
Ga, now an unschooled and unassigned
recruit in the regular United States
army.
The town Of Greensboro knows all
about the marvellous ingenuity of Har-
ris, the young mechanical prodigy. who
has invented and patented a new type
Of airplane. a roadster of the sky,
that some agents say will revolutionize
the flying industry.
But the discovery Of the genius among
the rockies caused as much of a shock
as the needle of the vaccinating sur
geon. -.. a.. .. ..... ..t
Two Journal photographers and a
Journal reporter turned up young Har-
ris after sleuthing about the post for
several hours. Nobody knows recruits
by their names at the fort, and this
made il difficult. One sergeant admitted
that there had been a fellow named
Harris at the camp but he left some
time ago; a corporal was quite sure the
young man in question was over guard
ing the Germans, while a sentry, upon
being interviewed. merely said, i
dunno" and passed on.
Richard Hillman Harris. mechanical
wizard. was found in the rear. of the
hospital He had been in rather bad
shape for several days. but was all
right Tuesday.
Are you the young man somebody Of
fered $4,000 for an airplane you've
made?" asked the reporter.
Yes" said Harris. but 1 wouldn't
take it."
After that incident Harris standing
among the recruits was changed. One
of the privates who heard his answer 70
the newspaper mans question opened his
eyes until il seemed that they would
bulge out, and stood gazing at the
Greensboro youth in wonder. A lieu
tenant who had never seen Harris be-
fore muttered something about the boy
looking like very promising young
chap" and several others familiarized
themselves Immediately. with the correct
spelling of the prodigy's name.
No joke about this S75,000-it's the
real thing The young inventor carries
letter TO prove it. and in his grip he
has letters from many other agents who
have become interested in taking the in
vention off his hands.
The airplane of Richard Hillman Har-
ris' measures thirty feet across the
wings and is for one passenger only.
The propeller and engine are on the
front end and the wings buckle on to
the back of the pilot. Without 'the
motor the whole affair will not weigh
more than forty pounds. 1t will take
Harris about one month to complete his
invention.
Private Harris wants to be an aviator
and do great things in the sky. but be-
fore he is assigned work among the
clouds he took a job on the ground
and will remain at Fort Mcpherson
until he Is transferred to an aviation
corps. His big dream Of the future is
TO fy across a European battlefield in
an airplane of his own invention.
Much of the gossip in Greensboro
drug stores nowadays concerns Harris
and his invention. The young man has
been making things since he donned his
first pair of pants. and the old store
room at his home in Greensboro is filled
with odd mechanical toys and devices
he has made during his spare time.
Richard Hillman Harris is twenty
two years old and is the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. A. G. Harris. of Greensboro. He's
modest as well as a patriotic young
man, and If you go out to Fort McPher-
son and inaugUrate a search for him
now you won't have to enlist the serv-
ices Of a half dozen private detectives
Somebody will be glad to point him out
| to you.