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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

He finally took off alone at 2:50 P.M. and climbed to considerable altitude in an endeavor to escape the storm, but after severe buffeting for some time made a safe landing and put in at Robertsdale, Indiana just outside of Chicago. Later there was considerable alarm for his safety and life boats were sent out in search of him before word came that he was safe at Robertsdale. Martin and Francis had mechanical troubles and did not start. Jannus was forced down near Gary, Indiana and was taken ashore by a tug boat. Havens reached Michigan City, Indiana safely. Due to magneto trouble and continued rough weather Johnson was unable to attempt another start until July 12th, when he immediately had the misfortune to hit some floating wreckage which so badly damaged his hull he was forced to discontinue the race. Martin and Francis abandoned the race at Pentwater, Michigan, and Havens and co-pilot Verplanck won the event by finishing at Detroit on July 18th.

On August 18th Johnson started a one-week flying engagement at Put-in-Bay, Ohio at a Perry Centennial Celebration. He used a Thomas Flying Boat with an Austro-Damlier engine. Also flying there were Tony Jannus, Beckwith Havens, William Bleakley and Frank Burnside. Here they also experienced bad weather and rough water which seriously hampered their operations. Johnson flew at Rome, New York September 3rd to 5th, then at Herkimer, New York September 9th and 10th. His next exhibition was at Conneaut, Ohio on Labor Day. On September 20th he flew from Gratz, Pennsylvania to Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, via Millersburg. He exhibited at Elizabethville, then flew to Lykens, Pennsylvania for a date there. At this time Earl Beers was serving as his mechanic and flew with him on cross country flights. Johnson exhibited at Dunkirk, New York October 15th to 18th, using a Curtiss-motored Thomas Hydro. There he made two flights using the Thomas Flying Boat with Austro-Damlier engine. From there he went to Louisville, Kentucky where he made daily exhibitions until December 16th. Another Thomas student, Charles Herrmann, was with him there as his mechanic.

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