Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-11
Local Control Station Has
Busiest Day Handling
Air Racers.
RECORD AT ROCK ISLAND
EWWV II

Planes winged their way east
and west from Rock Island field in
the trans-continental air derby
throughout the day, which is the
fourth of the contest and the busl-
est one to date at the local control
station.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon six
planes had reached the field and
left again, while another machine,
that of Lieutenant r. s. WCrthing-
ton, who spent the night here, de-
parted early this morning for Chi
cago.
sixteen mechanicians under the
command of Lieutenant E. S. Hans
berger, worked tirelessly in hand
ling the machines as they swoopcd
down on the field and rested a few
minutes before again taking the air.
Fuel, supplies, and the minor re-
pairs necessary had to be made in
record time, as all the pilots were
anxious to hop of as soon as they
had been on the ground the re-
.Idired 80 minutes.
Makes Record Time.
Lieutenant Worthington. the first
man to leave Rock Island field
this morning, established a new
flying record for the 155 miles be-
tween this city and Chicago. He
left the ground here at 7:10 o'clock
and just one hour and five minutes
later he alighted at Grand Park.
He piloted a single-seated British
scout plane.
Accompanying Lieutenant Fred
Nelson, who arrived here from the
east at 1880 p. m, was Lieutenant
Sam Lunt as passenger. L1euten-
ant Lunt was twice decorated py
France with the croiX de guerre and
is an American ace. He served
overseas IS months in the 96th
aero squadron. Lieutenants Nelson
and Lunt are from the flying field
,>at MiddletoWn. Pa, where Lieu
tsnant Hansberger, commanding
Rock Island field during the air
derby, aided in getting their ship in
readiness for the race.
Though the weather was reported
as bad along other sections of the
air route, conditions were good
here today and the pilots had little
difficulty in landing and leaving
Rock Island field
It is expected that the leaders
in the race will reach New York
and San Francisco, finishing the
first half of the contest this after
noon.
Major Carl Spatz, who with Cap
tain L. H. Smith and Lieutenant E.
c. Kiel, left Rock Island together
Yesterday afternoon for the east.
early in the day wrested the lead
from Captain Smith in the race
from San Francisco to New York
while Lieutenant Kiel is now in
first place and Captain Smith in
third place.
Captain Smith Loses Way.
Captain Smith lost his way in
heavy rain seven miles south OF
Cleveland broke a strut and a pro-
peller on his machine in making a
forced landing. He said it would
take several hours to make the nee
essary repairs. The machine over
turned in a ditch, but Captain
Smith escaped injury
Major Spatz and Lieutenant kiel
arrived safely in Buffalo at 11:48
and 11:52 respectively. They ex-
pressed confidence in reaching New
York shortly after noon despite the
bad flying conditions
<Lieutenant B. ". Maynard, the
flying parson, spent the night at
Salduro. Utah, leaving there at CAT
a. m. for Battle MOur-ain, New,
which he reecLed at S:13 a. m. The
last reports said he was speeding
toward San Francisco with the ex-
pectation of arriving there shortly
after noon.
Lieutenant H. c. Drayton, who
is second in the westbound group,
was at Green River, Wyo., at last
reports, and expected to reach the
Pacific coast before dark today.
Lieutenant L. S. Webster, third in
the race westward was last heard