416 HUDSON HONORED IN NEW YORK 



COULD HAVE TOUCHED GODDESS'S HAND. 



He would keep inviolate his appointment with Miss Liberty, and at 10:22 

 o'clock it was that the most unusual visitor she had ever received began to 

 show her what a man from Ohio could do "when put to it." 



It was then he waltzed around her, his wing tips palpitating exultantly 

 as he safely made the turn. He went high enough in the air to touch, if he 

 had had the time, the upraised hand of the goddess. He returned at once to 

 the island, having been away less than five minutes. 



Miss Liberty was reticent and Mr. Wright the same as to what, if any, 

 pleasantries were exchanged, so the truth may never be known. But the 

 crowd on the island was glad to see him back, and, after flying a half circle, 

 Mr. Wright seemed to pick out a particular spot for landing, and ended a 

 splendid, graduated descent by almost swimming into the sand. There was 

 no jar; the machine lighted squarely, but when the soldiers were pulling the 

 aeroplane back to the monorail one of the biplanes was broken. 



Ferryboats, a Sandy Hook boat and various nervous tugs around the 

 island stopped all progress during the flight. 



Shortly before i o'clock Mr. Wright and William J. Hammer, secretary 

 of the aeronautics committee of the Hudson-Fulton Commission, left the 

 island for luncheon at the Singer Building. Mr. Wright, whom thousands 

 at the Battery were waiting to see in the air, passed unnoticed under his 

 tightly drawn black derby hat through the surging mob. In his wake, though 

 unconsciously, were three well fed, curious farmers. 



A BUCOLIC DISCUSSION. 



"I tell you the flag on the steeple is blowin', and that means they'll be 

 flyin' to-day," said one. 



"It's the Norwegian Consul's flag that I see — over on that tower there," 

 said No. 2, pointing to the identical spot, near by, where it was proper for 

 that emblem to be exhibited. 



"I can't be seeing that far," said the most elderly of the three, pipingly, 

 "but where is the place for us to get tickets for the balloon ascensions?" 



They were told that Mr. Wright expected to fly up the Hudson River short- 

 ly after 3 o'clock. Old as he was, the last speaker said he would wait for the 

 show to begin, and, his knees trembling with excitement, he started off with 

 his companions in search of a vantage point. 



