The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-04
VIRGINIA Filler
FIRST TO CROSS
ANDES SUNNI
w. Knox Martin, Native of
Salem and Veteran of World
War, Astonished the Natives
CROSSED VENEZUELA IN '13
Made Many Flights in South
America, Gaining Name OF
''lntrepid American Aviator"
BY CHARLOTTE M. TEMPLE.

Dy OuANLOA II Wa = A1NAA AA1'
SALEM, Va, March 3.-W.
Knox Martin is remembered in
Salem as a comedy, attractive
child, or as a high school lad, who
went out to college as many an
other lad has zone.
Martins erstwhile neighbors are
unaware of the fame he has
achieved in South America, where
he is known as Gel aviator Amer
icano intrepido the intrepid
American aviator.
FLIGHT IN CARACAS.
In 1913, Mr.. Martin made his
appearance in Caracas with the
first aeroplane that ever flew over
Venezuela. He claims, that same
year, to have achieved the distinc-
ton of being the first aviator IN
the world to carry with him q
passenger. Caracas newspapers of
that year contained graphic &C.
counts of the startling effect cre-
ated by his flying stunts in exhibit
tons before people who had never
before seen a plane. He attained
what was, for that time, the re.
markable record of an altitude Of
5000 feet. and of remaining in the
air for twenty minutes.
With a camera strapped to the
skid of his biplane, he took the first
photograph, at an altitude Of 1000
feet, ever taken of a South Amerf-
can landscape from the air.
FLIES OVER ANDES.
On Christmas Day, 1920. Knox
Martin made the first flight over
the towering Andes, going from
Honda to Bogola, in one hour and
fifteen minutes. AS his plane flut-
tered to the ground at Bogota, the
youthful aviator was besieged by
a throng of spectators whose ex-
element amounted almost 70 frenzy.
Mr.. Martin is at present in Co.
lombia, teaching others how to fly,
giving exhibitions in aerial feats,
and handling Curtiss sales for the
South American territory.
While Martin is but thirty years
old. his life is one already crowded
with romance and adventure.
NATIVE OF SALEM.
Born in Salem, Va, the son
Of the late Samuel NJ. Martin, of
Campbell county, and OF Mrs. Ida
Knox Martin, q native of Accomac
county, he grew up in the quiet
little county seat Of Roanoke. Upon
leaving Salem High School, he went
Tor a time to Fork Union Military
Academy, and also studied at the
Art Institute of Baltimore, Md.
However, he soon made his boyish
dreams OF flying come true, by en-.
fering the Thomas Aviation School
ct New York.
THAT was in 1912. So rapidly
did he acquire proficiency that he
was soon giving exhibitions in New
England. During the PanAneri-
can Exposition, he gave exhibitions
at various points along the Pacific
coast. His restless spirit led him
TO Australia, where he made inter-
esting flights over the little-known
interior, but soon firing of the
little continent. he returned to
America For time he taught
In aviation schools at Washington,
Seattle and Vancouver.
PATROL IN WORLD WAR.
In. 1913 he made his first trip to
South America, but when the
United States entered the world
war, Martin flew back to Uncle
Sam. volunteered for his country's
service, and was given a commits
sion as lieutenant in the aviation
service. For a time, he instructed
at Love Field. near Dallas, Tex,
but during the major part of the
war period he patrolled the Florida
Coast to the West Indies.
In the spring following the arnnis-
tice, Lieutenant Martin resigned
and again sailed for South America.
When Lieutenant Martin is rest
Ing on terra firma, his thoughts
soar away in flights of fancy which
he sometimes translates to verse,
His letters to his mother at her
home in Salem are literary gems
stories of his travels by land, sea
and air.