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[[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] out by Johnson adn[[reversal edit mark]] Fred Eels, after which it was shipped to Chicago, arriving about July 1st. Also entered in this event were Tony Jannus in a Benoist, [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] Beckwith Havens in a Curtiss, Gle[[crossed-out]]e[[/crossed-out]]nn Martin in a Martin, and Roy Francis in [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] a Paterson-Francis. Each pilot was to carry a co[[crossed-out]]-[[/crossed-out]]pilot who would also act as mechanic. Johnson selected Earl Beers as his assistant for this event. 

One of the worst storms in many years in the Chicago area almost put an end to the entire event on the afternoon of the starting day. Jannus was first to start at 12:44, followed closely by Havens. Johnson was unable [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] to take [[crossed-out]] get [[/crossed-out]] off with his passengers because his engine developed magneto trouble, and he delayed his start in an effort to correct it. He finally [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] took off alone[[crossed-out]]g[[/crossed-out]] at 2:50 p.m. and climbed to considerable altitude in an endeavor [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] to escape the storm, but after severe buffet[[crossed-out]]r[[/crossed-out]]ing for some time he made a safe alighting and put in at Robertsdale, Indiana, just outside of Chicago. [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]]Later there was considerable alarm for his safety and life[[remove space edit mark]]boats were sent out in search of him before word came that he was safe. Martin and Francis had mechanical troubles and did not start. Jannus was forced down near Gary, [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] Indiana[[crossed-out]]m[[/crossed-out]], and taken ashore by a tugboat. Havens reached a Michigan City, Indiana, [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] safely. Due to magneto trouble and continued rough weather, Johnson was uanble[[reverse edit mark]] to attempt another start until July 12th, when he immediately had the misfortune [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] to hit some floating wreckage which so badly damaged the hull that he was forced [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] to discontinue the race. [[capitalize edit mark]] Martin adn[[reverse edit mark]] Francis abandoned the race at Pentwater, [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] 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 Cenntennial Celebration. He used a Thomas flying boat with an [[left-margin]] checkmark [[/left-margin]] Austro-Daimler engine. Alos[[reverse edit mark]] flying there were Tony Jannus, Beckwith Havens, William Bleakely, and Frank Burnside. During this engagement they also experienced bad weather and rough water which seriously hampered their operations. Johnson flew at Rome, New York, September 3rd and 5th, then at Herkimer, New

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