Viewing page 9 of 58

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

to Astoria, Oregon August 23rd to 26th where he was the first to fly from the Columbia River. HE put on a great show, witnessed by great crowds, including State and government officials. There on the last day he broke his propeller when he his a huge wave. A piece of it went through the float which immediately took water causing the plane to turn completely over backwards, floating upside down. Robinson took a ducking then calmly climbed on top to direct towing operations ashore. He then flew on August 30th and 31st at Glenwood Springs, Colorado; September 4th at Amarillo, Texas; September 8th at Clay Center, Kansas; September 12th at Marshalltown, Iowa and on September 14th and 15th at Huron, South Dakoka. On September 16th and 17th he had an exhibition engagement at McAlester, Oklahoma and while there flew over the State Penitentiary for the benefit of the prisoners. Robinson then went to Williston, North Dakota September 20th and 21st; Chanute, Kansas September 22nd and 23rd; Dubuque, Iowa September 24th and 25th; to Houghton Lake, Michigan September 26th and 27th, then to Evansville, Indiana, where he made five flights before a hugh crowd on the 28th. October 6th and 7th he flew at the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, Missouri, where President Taft was to be a guest. He flew out to meet the train carrying the President and escorted it several miles into town. He then flew at Muskogue, Oklahoma October 8th and back to St. Louis, Missouri where he made local history by being the first aviator to fly from the river there. He flew under all the bridges, raced a motorboat and carried U.S. mail from one state to another when he delivered same to Alton, Illinois

For some time Robinson had been planning on an extensive Hydro trip down the Mississippi River carrying mail and stopping at all major towns putting on exhibitions to promote interest in over-water flying. On October 17th, 1911 he started this flight from Lake Calhoun, Minnesota and flew 110 miles to Winona, Minnesota. There he refueled and started out again. In taking off he struck at submerged dike, damaging his float. This was repaired over night but bad weather prevented his departure until the 19th when he flew to LaCrosse, Wisconsin where he put on an exhibition, refueled and want on to Prairi du Chien, Wisconsin and

[[page number]] 5