New Britain herald., 1929-06-15

in which the American had won the international air racs at Rheims the previous summer. For the past six months 1t had been travelling by air or in freight cars. It had seen serv- ice in the wet climate Of Washing- ton and had been used in the desert country of the southwest.
 Flew With Cracked Propeller
 The propeller was cracked and bound with wire. It was from such crude repairing that the term hay wire" was derived. The motor need cd overhauling and the fabric Of plane and wing surfaces demanded replacing.
 But there was little time in which to make repairs. Rainy weather add cd to the difficulties and, except that Curtiss and his mechanics worked all night on the ship. it would not have started on schedule.
 Early on the morning of June IS. Hamilton took on from the island amid the shouts of a crowd which included several of his home town folks. He picked up . conveying train in Jersey. followed it. or rath- |er beat it. to Philadelphia, and was received by officials at the city hall. Half of his air trip had been made successfully.
 Succeeded Despite Handicaps After . short wait in the hope of securing a favorable wind. Hamilton took on for the return trip. He en- countered engine trouble over Tren- ton and then lost. sight of the spe- cial train which was to guide him home. The failure of spark plugs forced him down on the marshes of South Amboy. N. J. One thing after another delayed his departure for five hours and it looked for a time as though he would not be able to complete his flight. But before dark he, got his ship into the air and 20 minutes later landed at Governors island. completing . record flight of |17: miles.
 A few days later he paid an un- expected visit to New Britain and was given an impromptu welcome. He promised that he would bring his plane to the city and give an ex- hibition light.
 Returns Home Hero
 On July the prodisal son re- turned home. bringing the June Bug with him. A holiday was declared and the city turned out to do honor to the man whom the Scientific American credited as the greatest aviator in the world. A cordon of police were detailed as his escort. Such was the contrast between Charles K. Hamilton's return and the departure of the boy. Rcd" Hamilton.
 His plane was unloaded from the Commercial street railroad siding and taken to Walnut Hill park to be assembled in tent. It was | batter ed-up ship that Hamilton had at his disposal. The motor was wreck and the trouble it gave Hamilton on this occasion was the cause of his break with Curtiss . short time afterward.
 It was estimated that 50.000 peo- pit assen, bled to see the flight. which was long delayed due to the diffi- culty in getting the old "crate" in condition to fly. But fly it he finally did, from the park to a swamp at the lower end of what is now Mon roe street.
 Later Hamilton returned with other ships and made flights from Helvidere and Plainville. He also ex- hibited at the Berlin fair and on one occasion new to Hartford and circled the capitol.
 D1a6. Natseal Dseth A
 Most ofhis early fyihg compAn- ions were killed in crashes and it is often written that Hamilton met such a fate. But when this human eagle was called to | higher aerie. 1t was from his death bed in . New York apartment. January .l. 1914.
 Next year will mark the goth an- niversary of his record flight and of his first flight in his home city. It would be appropriate to dedicate the proposed flying field to his mem- ory on July 2. 1880, and name it Hamilton held.