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Calbraith P. Rodgers, [[strikethrough]]a[[/strikethrough]] descendant of commodore Mathew Calbraith Perry, was at this trine one of the early barnstorming types of aviation enthusiasts, a member of the New York Yacht club, and speed crazy. The challenge of a cross country flight appealed ^[[so]] strongly to him that a tri-partite agreement was easily and promptly made. Hearst offered the prize; Armour financing the trip, and Rodgers doing the flying. 

The flight was to follow the main line of the Erie [[strikethrough]]PA[[/strikethrough]] from New York to Chicago and "Cal" was to be accompanied by a special train consisting of one large baggage car, painted white and bearing Vin Fiz advertising on the outside, and one