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Show FOWLER READY TO START ON LONG FLIGHT i . Hopes to Fir San Francisco to New YorK in Twenty Days. SAX KKAM'Ifcit.O, Sept. 1 1. ra Ii mi nary to his itart in a Wright bi plane from tbia city lor New Yoii Robert (. Powler made a flight a 10:43 o'clock this morning to tet hi -machine, which proved to be under pet feet control. He remained in-, the at ten minute, passing out over tb orean and above the presidio, eoverinj about two and one half mi leu. The aviator alighted at the trtin point. On nearing the- ground th lower part of the biplane struck an' upset a lawn sprinkler, but no damag wa done. Kowler ex preyed himaeli as highly pleased with the result i hi test and at once began to prepart for hia long aerial voyage. Although a light fog hung over th aladiuaa tba wuaxhmz- waa.AlniQt idtal A larffe crowd, ineludinc a number ol rity officials and armv officers, wit neesed the flight. James Roiph. Jr. a member of thf directorate of the Panama Pacific ex poiition company, chriatened the aero plane at 11 :XS o'clock with a bottle nt water from the Pacific ocean. After ttolph had delivered a ahqrt address, in which he wished the aviator success on his flight, Kowler left to don hia flying clothe, expecting to return and leaie th ground for his eroaar country flight about 1 o'clock. Makes Fuel Chant. The preliminary flight brought additional addi-tional thousands to the park and the hills and bluffs surrounding the stadium were crowded. After alighting Kowler decided to emptv hia gasoline tanks and substitute ordinary automobile gas. olin for 'the specially refined fluid which had been prepared. This change was in the main responsible for big delay de-lay in starting. Fowler did not show the slightest nneasineaa as he directed the operations of his mechanicians in preparing the machine. "F have absolute confidence in my machine and in the engine, he said "Of course the undertaking is stupendous stupen-dous and no certain prophecy of success can be mad, but T have everv hope that I shall reach New York. The ape-, cial train will carry the parte of three i complete aeroplane, and I will have every facility at hand for quick repairs in case of accidents Crossing the Ki erras will, of course, he the most dangerous dan-gerous and difficult part of the under taking, but 1 will be able to accotn plish it safely. Th weather conditions arc perfect, and 1 hav a pretty thorough thor-ough knowledge of the wind and air current." Kowler "g mother. Mr. .7. G. Fowler, was with her son during the morning preliminaries. . 8h did not remain to witaees the start, hut left for Oakland when Fowler went to lunch, tn board the special train. Mrs. Fowler showed little agitation, and apparently shared her son a assurance of succesa. Mother It Confident '! know he is one of the moat careful care-ful aviators," she said. "The aero-aanta aero-aanta of the Wright school are taught to us the utmost care, and I have but little fear for hia safety." The aviatdr plana to make (he distance dis-tance in twenty flying days and in a total of twenty-sia days, arriving in New York, October 7. ' He will croas , tha Biarraa. A an-ciat train will art aa pilot, and will carry mochaniriana an4 machina parta. .Tha aviafor will follow tha lino of tha Southern and of tha Union Pacific and tb Illinois ( en-' en-' tral. Kowlar'a plana for today tn wake stntw at Kacranento and Colfax. Cat., ana Rono. Nv. . Ho will carry a mca-aa mca-aa from Rrig.-Ct-a. Panil Rrunh, commaoder pf tha department of t ali-foraia, ali-foraia, to Maj.-Oaa. Krederick n. Orant, commanding tha division of tha cast, with h-adquarters at Governor's inland, New York. |