Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1910 — AVIATOR MAKES TERRIFIC SPEED [ARTICLE]

AVIATOR MAKES TERRIFIC SPEED

From New York to Philadelphia ~ : in Two Hours. HAMILTON FIRST IN RACE Effort to Win Prize for Trip to City of Brotherly Love and Return Half Finished Without Mishap. Philadelphia, June 13. —Charles K. Hamilton finished the first half of a record-breaking aeroplane flight from New York when he landed at Front and Erie avenues in this city at 9:28 a. m. today. As he reached the field he circled about several times, rose to about 200 feet and then shot to earth easily, A tremendous crowd cheered him. He had covered the distance in seven minutes less than two hours. Hamilton passed Metuchen, N. J., 25 miles from Jersey City, at 8:09 a. m„ flying directly over a special train of the Pennsylvania railroad, which acted as a guide. He passed over Millstone Junction at 8:19, having traveled five miles in ten minutes. Eight Hundred Feet Over Trenton. At Trenton, N. J., Hamilton flew over the Clinton street station of the Pennsylvania railroad at 8:50 a.m. A minute later he passed over the Delaware river into Pennsylvania. An enormous crowd gathered at Trenton to see him. As he went over the city Hamilton dropped a message giving his elevation as 800 feet. Between 8:09 and 8:50 the aviator flew 31 miles.

Starts After Delay by Accident. New York, June 13. —Charles "~K. Hamilton,' the aviator, started from Governor’s island at 7:35 o’clock this morning in his aeroplane flight from New York to Philadelphia and return under the auspices of the New York Times and the Philadelphia Public Ledger. His propeller, broken in an attempted start ’25 minutes earlier, was repaired quickly- and the aviator made a graceful rise, circled the island and then headed off over the Kill von Kull at a height of about 225 feet. Cheered by Crowds. Crowds which had assembled to see the ’start gave the aviator a hearty cheer as he arose and cheered him again as he swept around and passed over the island on his final getaway. No flags were flying from the aeroplane, but Hamilton carried several hundred small, round, flat celluloid disks, known as “peace bombs,” which he intended to drop at designated places in his flight as an illustration of the possibilities of the aeroplane in war. Hamilton carried letters from Govand Mayor Gaynor, which he was to deliver to Governor Stuart and Mayor Reyburn in Philadelphia, and a special message from the New York Times to the Philadelphia Public Ledger. The two papers contributed a purse which was to vary according to what Hamilton should be able to achieve. The total amount has not been made public.