The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-10
'ELINOR SMITH Is
 RECORD BREAKER
 OF WHOLE WORLD
But l0 Years of Age She Has Left Altitude Mark for Both Men and Women Flyers

Roosevelt Field, l.. l., April 10.-- Elinor Smith, daring 19-year old aviatrix, was unofficialIy credited to-day with having established a new altitude record for both men and women to shoot at in commercial planes.
 Undaunted by crash two weeks ago when she lapscd into unconscf- ousness while five miles above and lot took her Beilanca plans to . height of 32,5O0 feet.
 The previous record for women was held by Ruth Nichols, who reached Q ceiling of 2s.743. George Haldeman climbed to an altitude of 30.453 feet to set the mems mark. Both of these records were for com mercial planes. Lieutenant Apollo Soucek attained mans greatest height by flying to 43,166.
 Miss Smith carried two sealed pltimeters. One of them stuck at e5,00O. The other registered 32,500 when 1t was taken from her plane after the successful flight. Airport officials said preliminary examin- ation of the barograph indicated she may have reached an even greater height than that registered.
 The aviatrix said she felt no i'll ef- ISCtS ATVHt tHc IhBHL OLHef LnHn that her mouth was nearly frozen from breathing the oxygen in the rarified atmosphere, where the temperature registered IS degrees below zero.
 Mechanics had placed rubber bands on the valves of the oxygen tanks to prevent them from closing such as they did on her previous flight which nearly proved disas- trous.
 Miss Smith took off shortly be- fore o'clock yesterday remaining in the air one hour and 45 minutes. She made q perfect three point land- ing at 6:21. Jubilant and hungry. Mother, 1 guess I made it," she called to Mrs Agnes Smith, who, with Eleanor's father and brother. were among the 1000 spectators. Sho then refreshed herself with bottle of soda and a sandwich at nearby stand, telling of the flight between bites.
 New York city looked to her like a tiny gold-rimmed bit of fairyland from the six-mile height.
 "The earth looked like a glori- fled sunset," she said. Manhattan island was all gold from the suns reflection. I felt like Alice in Won- derland."
 There was a haze at 10000 and the earth was obscured, she said, until she reached a higher altitude when she could see New York plain ly.
 At 10000 feet her motor began tot sputter and 1t was necessary for the girl to circle around to adjust the fuel mixture before she began to climb again. She circled again at 25.000 feet when one of the altime- ters stuck. She was climbing stead- fly when she reached the 32.500, foot mark, Miss Smith said, but she discovered her gasoline supply was running low and decided to descend.
 Walton D. Ward. representative of the National Aeronautics association who installed the barographs, said he believed Miss Smith had gone well over 30,000 feet. He will send the barographs to Washington to bo caiibrated. The result will be made known in about two weeks.
 Miss Smith broke the women's record last year when she reached ments at that time read between 30,0OO and 32,000 feet. Miss Nichols few months later broke Miss Smiths record.
 One of the first telegrams of congratulation to be received by Miss smith was from Miss Nichols. It read
 Splendid work. Elinor. Records must constantly be broken If com mercial aviation is to advance. My best congratulations"
 Miss Smith later described her flight and the sensations she felt over a network of the National Broadcasting company.