New Britain Herald Newspaper, June 15, 1929, Page 3

“Lindbergh -of 1910” Left - City in Disgrace, But " 50,000 People Watched - BY. CLARENCE BARNES When . the Boston-New York alr mijl. wings its- way over the ‘south- ern.sectien of New ‘Britain tonight, its patsage .will hardly be noted by the: average citizén. If one of the huge. tri-motor planes flies eover the cit7 ‘this afternoon, it will not cause the sligntest ripple of excite- ment. But 19 years ago the announce- ment in the Herald that Charles Hamilton would fly his aeroplane here appéared as front page ‘news and: set the city agog. with excite- ment. And when the event came off en the scheduled day every man, wéman and chiid in New 3ritain who could get outdoors, and all the neighbors who could crowd into the city, saw the first flight in Con- necticut. * The ng years have made us blise to the wonders of human flight and perhaps forgetful that Jocal boy, & score of years ago, was the Lindbergh of his day. But if. we ars prone to neglect. the memory of Charlis Hamilton, the followers of modern aviation keep him in mind. He i3 _often recalled by magasine writers who give “C. K.".. much credit for the early development of flying technique. ‘Was Dizon's 1dol Better than that, the spirit of the first American ace still soars in the air, inherited by Lieut. Carl A, Dix- on, whoss abmition to fly was ac- quired the day he atood as & mall boy on his back porch with his mother and viewed with awe the sight of Hamiiton swooping . lown over the house. I thought Hamilton would fly vight in the kitchen . door."” said Mrs. Dixon when she told me about it. “And then Carl looked up at me and said, ‘Mother, some day I am going to fly over your house.’ A"nd years later he did—many times. Here in his native city, Hamil- ton's. prestige lagged behind the honors paid him by the flying world. And today thera is a tenden- ¢y, locally, to recall incidents in his lite not as favorable to his mem- ory as his achievements in aviation. It is the old atory of the prophet re- eeiving scant honor in his own eountry. ryl!l Flier of His Age There are those who will tell you that “Red” Hamilton was a wild cuss as & boy and a dare.devil as a man and will discount his flying rec- ord. No doubt there are grounds for such opiniol but a search through the files of the Scientific Amarican and the New York Times veveals Hamilton as he was regard- ed by a public that was uninflu- enced by local prejudices. There 1 found him rated as the premier fly- er of 1910, A break with the conventions of society was the turning point in his earser and, though a regrettable start, set the boy on his own, where he could do the one thing his na- ture best fitted him for—air work. Used Umbrella-Parachute He had caught the air-fever when he had begged a balloon ride from & pilot who was giving an exhibi- tion at the old Berlin Fair. After- ward he jumped with an umbrella from a window in the Burritt school. When he disappeared from the eity nothing was heard from for a couple .of years. In 1906 he first gained publicity in New York when the metropolitan newspapers noted that “Charles Hamiiton, a young man from Texas, had appeared in the city to fly Israel Ludiow’s aero- planes.” A These “aeroplanes” of Ludlow's were gliders or man-carryink kites, with which the New York lawyer was experimenting. His own first ascent in one of them in Florida had proved disastrous and he had been partially crippled. Hamilton had gained fame as a " balloon “jumper” in the south- west and hig reputation for daring smong the craftsmen of the air, had- filtered nrth. "~ o Flew On Kites In New York and at Ormond Beach, Fiorida, Hamilton went aloft in Ludlow’s kites, sometimes towed into the air by an auto and sometimes by a boat. Usually the kite broke loose from its 200 foot tope. tether and as there was no steering apparatus, the pilot had to accept such landings as fate willed. On these forced landings it was Hamiiton's practice to climb to the top of the kite so that the frame werk would break his fall. Hu ex- perienced 63 such descents but es- caped serious injury. The following year he went back to balloons and established a repu- tation as the most daring parachute jumper of the day. Not satisfied to @escend with one parachute, he often thrilled crowds by using five “life.savers,” cutiing away from one to the other on his way to earth . He also soloed in balloons and then it was necessary for him to bring the gas bag back to the ground without help. Such descents were regulatel by a valve used to release the gas. On one occasion. rhen Hamilton was up 6.000 feet. the valve refused to function and the daring meronaut climbed trom his basket to the bag and slit the end up. He hung there and regulat- ed the escaping gas with his hand until he came to earth. Another time, he was shot 14,000 feet into the air when the ballast dropped off as the balloon left the ground. ‘At that aititude the gas bag collapsed under pressure. Fortunate- 1y the envelope fell over the frame weork in such a manner that 1t formed a sort of parachute. Thus supported, Hamilton, made a safe descent. 666 ® 8 Prewrigptin for Colds. Cirippe. Flu. Dengue. Bilious Fever and llll‘l:l B4 10 the munt spred) semesl) hmown Was Greatest Aviator of His Day Mobbed by Japaness In 1908 he transferred: his activi- ties to a small type dirigible .nd took one to Japan, where ne made the tirat flight ever seen In the land of the Mikado. There he was mobbed by Shidtoists, who assumed that their -religious faith was vio- lated by this pagan who flew to- ward heaven, On his return to this country, he thrilled crowds at Brighton Beach by navigating his airship over wa. ter. He balanced and: steered his craft by running hack and forth en a platform, suspanded under the elongated bag. A small powered gas engine propelled the ship. When failed, as it often did, the pilot ha to land in a hurry to keep from being carried out to sea. Twice Hamilton was rescued far out on the water by passing craft. Once he extracted himself from:a net work of power wires on which he landed. Such was Hamilton's air educa- tion. His self-directed experiments with umbrellas, the course of sprouts through ' which Captain Thomas Baldwin put him with bal- loons, parachutes and dirigibles, and what he learned about balance under the tutelage of Israel Ludlow constituted a wide variety of air ex- perience which aided him in con- quering the aeroplane at his first attempt to fly one. Couplied with his daring Hamil- ton had *‘color” which' made him a popular hero and good ‘copy” for ihe newspapers. He was slightly red-headed, slim, and smail of stature. He probably never weighed over 125 pounds. His ears protruded and, unlike Lindbergh, he was not a handsome fellow. But, like the Flying Colonel, Hamilton knew his air stuff. Relative of American Founder He was born May 30, 1885, of pioneer stock. His great-great- grandfather was the brother of Al- exander Hamilton. His middle ini- tial stood for “Keeney," his moth- er's family name. When Hamilton turned from. balloons to try his luck with aeroplanes, the country was ‘re- mendously excited over the flying machines of Curtiss and the Wrights. There were not more than a half dozen pilots qualified to fly. There was a great opportunity for a man who knew as. .much about the air as did our local hero. “Stole” First Flight In November, 1909, Hamilton went to Hammondsport. N. Y., to seek a job with Glenn Curtiss. The aviator was away when “C. K." a rived. Hamilton did not wait for hie return but had a mechanic trundle out the “June Bug” and start the motor. After a few minutes of in- struction in the use of the controls, Hamilon taxied the plane up and down the field until he got the feel of it. Then he took the ship into the air and circled the field, much to the amazement of the mechanics. Set World On Curtiss’s return he was %0 impressed with the new pilot that he sent Hamilton to the Pacific coast. on an exhibition tour. There the birdman immediately achieved renown for his daring and flying skill. He was one of the dozen avi- ators at the first air meet held in this country n January, 1910, at Los Angeles. A month later he low- ered the record for a mile, which had been established by a French fiyer. 3 This was the beginning of a long list of records that the local man piled up to his credit. Early in the same year he flew from San Diego, California, across the Mexican bor- der, thereby being the first aviator to fly out of the United States .nto a foreign country. On this hop he passed over the ocean, out of sight of land, which constituted a record in itseli. Invented Air Stunts In meeting emergencies he per- formed miracies in controlling his plane under conditions that theo- retically doomed the plane. When a propeller shaft broke, he brought his ship safely to the ground and thus invented what is now known as “dead stick” landing. He got so much thrill out of this experience that it became his favorite stunt to descend from the sky with the pow- er shut off. After the Los Angeles meet, Hamilton worked his way to Texas giving exhibition flights in many of the western states. He made the first flights seen in Arizona, re- celving $2.000 for an exhibition at Tucson. In the Panhandle state, rather than disappoint the assem- bled crowd, he took his ship into the air after fire had burned away half of the wing fabric. He was in Florida when Glenn Curtiss announced that he would try for the New York World's prize of $10,000 for a flight between New York and Albany. Immediately Hamilton packed his plane, put it on board a steamer and started to New York city, hoping to arrive there before Curtiss started and with the intention of trying for the prize himself. But the inventor made the frst long distance hop in America, the day after Charlie landed in New York. Hamilton congratulated Cur- tiss but prophesied that the record would not atand long. Two weeks luter he broke it himself. ‘Won 85,000 Prize The New York Tim.s and Phila- delphia I.edger prize of $5.000 for a reund trip, dawn-to-dusk flight be- tween the metropolis and the Qua- ker City. offered him his opportunity to xain international fame. Hamilton started preparations to %o after this prize. He had his ship carted to Mineola and there as- sembled it. Then for 10 days he gave daily flying exhibitions such as had never before been seen around New York. ‘When he was satisfied that he had mastered flying conditions in the east. he announced the following Bunday for the flight and Van Courtland park as the starting point. But there was a protest from the churches in Philadelphia regarding a Sunday flight s0 the date was changed to Monday, June 13. Hamil- ton found that the park was too limited in space so he got permis- sion to use Governor's island for the take-off. Much overhauling had to be done at the last minute condition the away ship. It was Curtiss' old June Bug in which the American had won the intergations! air race at Rheims the previous summer. For the past six months it had been traveling 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 ‘The propeller was cracked and bound with wire. It was from such crude repairing that the term “hay- wire” was derived. The motor need- ed overhauling and the fabric of plane and wing surfaces demanded replacing. But there was little time in which to make repairs. Rainy weather add- ed to the difficuities and, except that Curtias and his mechanics worked all night on the ship, it would not have started on schedule. : Early on the morning of June 13, Hamilton took off from the island amid the shouts of a crowd which included several of his home town folks. He picked up a convoying train in Jersey. followed it, or rath- beat it, to Philadelphia, and was ceived by officials at the city hall. Half of his air trip had been made succéssfully. Succeeded Despite Handicaps After a short wait in the hope of securing a favorable wind, Hamilton took off for the return.trip. He en- countered engine trouble over Tren- ton and then lost. sight of the ape- 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 Governor's island, completing a record flight of 172 miles. A few s 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- kibition fight. Returns Home a Hero On July 2 the prodigal son re- turned home, bringing the June Bux 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 his escort. 8uch the contrast between Charles K. Hamilton’s return and the departure of the boy, “Red” Hamilton. His plane was unloaded from the Commercial street railroad siding and taken to Walnut Hill park to be sembled in a tent. It was a batter- ed-up ship that Hamilton had at his disposal. The motor was a wreck and the trouble it gave Hamilton on this occasion was the cause of his break with Curtiss a short time afterward. It was estimated that 50,000 peo- It asserabled to see the flight, which 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 whai is now Mon- roe street. Later. Hamilton returned with other ships and made flights from Belvidere and Plainville. He also ex- hibited at the Berlin fair and on one occasion flew to Hartford and circled the capitol. . Natural Death Most of ‘Ris early fiyiig 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 a higher aerle, it was from his death bed in a New York apartment, January 21. 1914. Next year will mark the 20th an. niversary of his record flight and of his first flight in his home city. Tt would be appropriate to dedicate the proposed flying field to his mem- ory on July 2, 1930, and name ‘it Hamilton field. EXTOL WORTH OF VETERAN TEACHERS School Board Adopts Resolu- tions on Retiring Executives Resolutions of regret on the re- tirement of Mrs. Grace M. Coholan and Miss Ella A. Fallon from the New Britain system were passed by the school board at the June meeting yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Coholan was principal of the 8malley school since 1906 and Miss Fallon was supervisor of elemen- tary schools for 20 years. The resolutions follow: Mrs. Coholan “The withdrawal of Mrs. Grace M. Coholan as a member of the school staff at the close of the school year 8-1929 completes a period of service in New Britain tchools extending over 28 years. “This committee in accepting Mrs. Coholan’s resignation desires to give expression to its deep appreciation for the devoted service which during all these years has been given by Mrs. Coholan to the schools and children of the city. “For wise leadership will bhe missed not only by the staff of the Smalley school, of which she has been principal for 22 years, but aiso her matured wisdom and counsel will be missed in the meetings of the principals of the schools. “The committee congratulates Mrs. Coholan upon the successful | completion of these many years of | service as teacher and principal as a noteworthy achievement and also gives expression to its wish that she may now enjoy many years of well- earned rest and enjoyment.” Miss Fallon “The resignation of Miss Ella A. Fallon brings to its close a period of 20 years of service as supervisor of tTe elementary schools of New Brit- ain. “Her ripe scholarship, keen in- sight, thorough professional prepara- tion, rare skill as a teacher of little children and her sympathetic and kindly wisdom as a director of teachers made her service in these schools of the highest value. “It 18 with regret that this com- mittee accepts Miss Fallon's resiy- nation as supervisor of elementary schools and with the hope that tais withdrawal from duty as an active member of the school staff may re- sult in a full restoration to normel health.” = Up in the Air—Hoping to Stay There i TENNIS ALL EVEN ‘1 Kats of Hungary yesterday, 6-4. Budapest. June 15 (UP)—Great 8 and Von Kehrling of Hun- Britain and Hungary stood all evea beat J. C. Gregory of England, at one match each in the semi- -5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. finals of the European zone Davis e cup competition when the doutles| Sweden has approximately 176.- commenced today. 000 motor vehicles, an increuse of Henry Austin of England beat ‘ 170,000 in 10 years. The Part That Paint Plays In the Livability of a House Redecorating a home, inside and out, is not merely a matter of its preservation; not just a cold commercial idea to increase real estate values. Those who live in a home ave, to a considerable extent, influenced by its appearance—its state. If it is a gloomy place, inside and out, gloomy thoughts are almost certain to be generated. Bright walls, bright wood work, glistening enamel, shimmering beauty everywhere, makes for human hap- piness. Allow us to submit estimates at an early date. Morgan, Kingsley & Thompson, Inc. Painters and Decorators 411 MAIN STREET 5-7, TEL. 534 Dr.R. V. Westerberg Veterinarian WISHES TO ANNOUNCE the Opening of His Office at 403 WEST MAIN STREET PHONE 1151 We are glad to announce the opening of a HOTTER COAL CORPORATION Distributing Plant We will serve you with highest quality Anthracite and Bituminous Coals for cash at lower prices. We quote below our prices for JUNE delivery: EGG—$14.25 NUT—$14.25 STOVE—$14.25 PEA—$11.00 NO. 1 BUCKWHEAT—$8.75 TERMS: STRICTLY CASH Try Our Coal and Watch Our Service A HOTTER COAL CORPORATION 2 WOODLAND STREET TELEPHONE 4637 A. R. SWANSON, Resident Manager |to an airplane ct comparable size |under similar circumstances. London, June 15 (UP)—Ten years ago today a British bombing planc landed rather clumsily in a marwny | field near Clitden, Jreland, after hav- | ing completed the first airplane | crossing of the Atlantic ocean. | Exactly fifteen hours and 57 min- utes earlier the plane had soared | out over the treacherous Atlantic | from St. John's, Newfoundland, on | one of the most daring and risky ad- | ventures in the history of aviation. | The two tired men who climbed out of the machine into the mud | were 8ir Arthur Whitten Brown and | the late Captain Eir John Alcock. They had conquered the Atlantic | and were the winners of the $50 000 | prize offered by a London newspaper | the teat. Sir Arthur Whitten Brown, seated | in his comfortable study in his home | at Langland, Swansea, South Wales, ecently told the United Press that | he future of transatlantic flying rests, not with the airplane, but witi the airship. Even the mishap to the | Graf Zeppelin has strengthened his faith in the airship. The interrupted voyage of the Graf Zeppelin,” he said, “shows that | although her engines were disabled she was nevertheless able to land her passengers in safety. One hesitates to think what might have happened Foresees Acrial Tugs i “The difficulties which the Graf Zeppelin encountered, and which | were 80 admirably overcome by her | commander are due in part to the insufficient preparation which the | world has so far made for aerial transport on large scale. One can imagine how helpless a huge Atlan- tic liner would be with disabled eu- | gines, and no other vessel to offer | help. As it is there are many other | smaller vessels and & fleet of tugs | would be at her disposal. Doubt- | less the future will bring forth mora | |airships and probably the aerial tug | and the aerial lifeboat.” i The man who was speaking is the only surviving member of that dar- | ing first crossing. Captain Sir Jonn | Alcock was killed in December of | 1919 while attempting to land his amphibian flying machine near First Non-Stop Fligh Made Exactly Ten Years Ago Today| | grees west. t Over Ocean Rouen, ¥rance. He was en route | from London to Paris when over- | taken by a nasty fog. In attempting to land his mnachine wittout dam. aging it he crash:d. The plane was uot hadly damaged but in trying to save his machine Captain Alcock lost his own life. Only a short time before, he, along with Arthur Whitten Brown, had been knighted by the king in recognition of their June flight across the Atlantic. Both fliers had | been with the Royal Air Force dur- | ing the war and were cited for con- spicuous bravery. | Log of Flight The following 10g of the trip, es pecially prepared for the United | the two men were fiying. June 14, 1919—4:12 p. off. 4:28 p. m. Crossed coast of New- foundland on eastward course 1.000 feet, 5:20 p. m. Height 1,500 feet, wire- less generator failed. 6:05 p. m. Exhaust pipe on star- board engine burst. 9:20 p. m. Height 4.000 feet, flying | between two layers of clouds. June 155, 12:25 a. m. Height 400 | feet. Position hy star observation | T N., Long. 31 de- | m. Took 1‘ Lat, 50 degrees 7' Altered course from 104 degrees to 110, 3:10 a. m. Height 3,500 feet. Camc | suddenly into thick cloud. The ur. | expectedness, plus absence of a | turn_indicatof caused machine fo | Cae out of clow: At 100 frel oblalned hoi w834 Capt. ¥ pulled aciine stwmipht and level. Pcsumed coures. iy 3:49 & n. Height €300 feet. S48 in cloud. 4:20 & m Heigiit 6,300 foel. Above cloud but between twe layers. 3 3:20 a. m. Height 5.300 fest. In thick cloud with heavy “snew and - sleet. 6:20 2. m. Height 2,400 feet. Plane covered with slest and aileror. wings frozen. 8till in cloud. ~ 7:03 a. m. Helght 15000 feat. Clouds thinning. Obtained -pesities from sun. altered course to 170 de- grees at 7:20 GMT. 8:15 a. m. Sighted land: §:25 a. m. Crossed coast and iden- tified Clifden 8:40 a. m. Landed. - Sir Arthur, who accomplished Mia crossing when Colone! Charies A. Lindbergh was stil! a schoolbey ef for the first airplane to accomplish | Press hy Sir Arthur, attests to the | 15 St!ll conaiders that luek. pius ut- | dangerous conditions under which most care in preparation, are the twe most vital factors in aviatien. Bus leaves New Britain Jume 99, returning July 7. Reund trig 992, Call THE MASTCO (O; - or Phons 1005-W YOUR OPPORTUNITY To Buy Desirable Business Property That Carries Itself On WEST MAIN ST. Lot 82 x 180 $5,000 CASH PHONE TAKES IT 3320-W A Mighty Host to Serve You! TaszFin THE TROJANS ARE COMING—MONDAY : AAAAAAAAAARAARARAAAR AR A K 2] CAUSED BY A YouTH A CAR ON A BLIND CURVE. The Terrible Tempered Mr. Bang THE TERRIBLE TEMPEREP MR. BANG WAS IN AN ACIDENT IN A SPORT ROADSTER PASSING By Fontaine Fox