Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-10
AIR FANS keep
ALL DAY WATCH
TO SEEFLYERS
Crowds at Framing Field Eagerly
Search Eastern Skies for the
First Glimpse Of Planes.

More than a thousand people
gazed eagerly toward the east from
10 o'clock yesterday morning uatil
almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
searching for a glimpse Of the much
heralded trans-continental air rae
ers, who were due to arrive from
New York bound for the Pacific
coast. Lieutenant Maynard, first
to reach Rock Island in the great
air derby, had taken before the air
fans had arrived at the field
Their patience, however, was
well rewarded when at 3:34 Cap
tain H. c. Grayton poked the nose
of his beautiful De Haviland-4 over
the hills back of Moline, and after
circling the field once made a land
ing in the center of the 40-acre
tract.
A new set OF shock absorbers
were put on the machine. gas and
oil taken and the required registra
ton made. At 4:21 Captain Gray
ton jumped off. headed for the
west. The crowd gave him a great
send-off
Four contestants arrived at the
Rock Island control station yester
de. but the crowd saw only three.
as Lieutenant Maynard landed and
made his getaway before o'clock
yesterday morning. He has over
eight hours lead on his nearest
competitor
Out Of Race.
Major Henry Miller made the lap
from Chicago, but was forced to re-
tire from the race on account OF
engine trouble.
Miller's plane hove into sight
shortly after Captain GraytOn, ar
irving at 3:57 His motor was
missing badly when he arrived and
upon examination 1t was found that
one piston was completely burned
out. and could not be repaired in
the As hours allowed. The ship
will be disassembled and shipped
back to Mineola. Major Miller and
Captain Simonin, his observer, will
remain until the plane is shipped.
At ABS the last arrival OF the
day was recorded, when Lieuten-
ant L. S. Webster made a beautiful!
landing. No repairs were nee led
and after filling the tanks he jump
ed off again AS sunset for the
flyers in 5:32 in the evening Web
ster was very anxious to make the
next lap before dark.
He left at sos and expecting to
land at the Des Moines field about
o'clock.
Arrive From West.
Do
cific coast are expected to be max
ing their appearance today as well
as are a number from the east.
The flyers from the west are
making excellent time and from re-
ports OF those already here the
rest of the pack from New York
are close behind and due to regis
ter today. First sight is gained Of
the flyers when they pass almost
directly over the Rock river bridge
coming from the direction of Mo-
tine
Pleased With Field.
Every pilot mentioned the fact
that the Rock Island field was the
best landing place they had found
on the trip and were delighted over
the preparations that had been
made
The Chicago field, according TO
one Of the flyers report is a sea of
mud. and when he landed there it
took team Of horses to pull him
out.
Immediately after landing at the
control station the pilot must reg
lister with the commanding officer
and remain for 30 minutes. This
time is used for taking on supplies
and any repair that IS needed
Each contestant is given a good
lunch by the Red Cross and a box
OF sandwiches is placed in the plane
for them
Most of the flyers are so anxious
to be on their way that they never
think of eating. All they want is