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[[newspaper clipping]]
COLD STALLS AIRSHIP

Milling Has Narrow Escape When Engine Stops in Air.

PREPARE FOR AERO CONTEST

College Park Aviators Hope to Obtain Leave to Participate in International Meet—School to Be Closed November 1, Owing to Expected Rough Weather. "Cloud" Club Formed.

^[[Sept 14    11]]

Owing to the cold at College Park yesterday afternoon Lieut. [[pencil underlined]] Thomas DeWitte Milling [[/pencil underlined]] had a narrow escape from disaster, when the engine of his biplane became chilled and stalled in midair. The aeroplane made a sidelong plunge toward earth, and scraped the sod with its left wing before the aviator succeeded in righting it. At the time of the accident, the machine was only 50 feet above earth, and for that reason was more difficult to handle. Lieut. Milling's hands were numb with cold, but he got the biplane to earth without breaking it or injuring himself.

A few minutes later Lieut. Kirtland went aloft, and after trying to reach an altitude of 2,000 feet, came down from sheer exhaustion. It was so cold that the aviators could hardly operate their machines Capt. Beck, profiting by the experiences of his fellow officers, remained on the ground.

Only seven flights were made by the army officers. The day's work was brought to a close by a flight in the new biplane that reached College Park a few weeks ago. George Tarbox, the aviator, took the craft for a sail around the field, making a successful landing. This is the biplane that will be fitted with a "stabilizer" and tried out next week.

Only Three Venture Aloft.

The afternoon's work was done by Milling, Arnold, and Kirtland, who were the only army aviators to venture into the air.

Lieut. Kirtland said that it would not be long before the flights would have to be abandoned in Washington and a warmer climate sought, if the work were to be continued. The school here will be closed about November 1.

Preparations are being made by Capt. Beck and Lieuts. Milling and Arnold to attend the international aviation meet at Nassau Boulevard, N. Y., from September 23 to October 1. Capt. Beck has applied for leave of absence, and if granted will leave the field on September 17. Milling and Arnold will remain here a few days longer.

It is a rule of the signal corps that no officer may fly in aviation meet as a representative of the United States army. Timothy L. Woodruff, the New York politician, who is the chief promoter of the Gotham meet, has wired the chief signal officer, Col. George P. Scriven, asking that the three officers be allowed leaves of absence. If these be granted, they may enter the meet as private individuals.

Large purses have been set aside for the army officers as an inducement for them to enter the meet. These purses aggregate $7,500. Other purses of more than $50,000 will be offered, and the men from College Park also will be allowed to compete for this money. An effort was made by the promoters of the big meet to get the army officers to compete in the machines they have been using at College Park, but Col. Scriven would not permit this.

An aviators' club has been organized by the officers of the signal corps stationed at College Park. The name of the club has been officially announced as the Cloud Club. None but the flying squad may be active members, but newspaper men and aviators outside the army may become associates.
[[/newspaper clipping]]