The State Gazette, Trenton, NJ, Wed., June 2, 1920:
p. 1, c. 1 -

COUNTRY CLUB TO
        GIVE AEROPLANE
                RIDE TO MEMBER
        --------------
Winner of Contest at Dinner
   Tomorrow Will Fly Over
         The City.
         ---------
     EXPECT MANY TO DINE
         ---------
        The house committee of the Trenton Country Club was arranged for
a novelty of exceptional interest to feature the weekly Thursday table
d'hote dinner to be held at 6:30 o'clock tomorrow evening.  Lieutenants
Turner and Runser will give an exhibition of trick flying from the
knowledge they acquired while flying in France.  These officers left New
York a day or two ago and are making a tour of the country, making a stop
at all the capital cities en route, demonstrating the safety in the new
type of plane they are using.
        Dinner reservations are now being made and a contest for members
of the club will be held, the winner of which will be entitled, if he
cares for the "prize," to a free ride over the city of Trenton.  Other
members may also enjoy a ride in the aeroplane by the payment of a fee.
        Owing to the haste in which the arrangements had to be made by
the committee in charge, the usual postal card notices to members were
not sent out as usual.
        This is the first time that a local club has offered one of its
members a free ride in an airship.  It is expected that the dinner will
be largely attended because of the interest in the airship flight.


The State Gazette, Trenton, NJ, Thurs., June 3, 1920:
p. 1, c. 2 & p. 2, c. 1-4 -

GAZETTE REPORTER
        TO TAKE FLIGHT TO
                BOOST ARMY TODAY
        -----------------
Will Distribute Literature
  From Plane as It Flies
         Over City.
         ---------
     BIRDMAN TELLS AIMS
         ---------
        In order to co-operate with the United States army in encouraging
young men to recruit in the air service, Lieutenants Runser and Turner,
who have been giving flying exhibitions here for several days, will give
a demonstration flight over the city this afternoon, at 1 o'clock.  They
will be accompanied by Mrs. Marion MacRobert, a member of the State
Gazette staff, who will distribute recruiting literature as the plane
flies over the city.  Arrangements for the trip were made by Sergeant
George Smith, officer in charge of the local recruiting station.
        Following the flight over the city, the plane will go to the
country club, where the two aviators will give an exhibition of stunt
flying and take members of the club for aeroplane rides.

                EXPERIENCED FLYERS

        Both young mem are experienced flyers.  Lieutenant Turner having
served with the A.E.F. in France and Germany and Lieutenant Runser for
eighteen months as an instructor on this side.  They received their
training at Camp Ranboul, Ill., and at San Antonio, Tex.  The two have
made hundreds of flights together and were the first aviators to cross
Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Rockies.
        During their present trip they will visit the capital of every
state in the Union, and expect their flight to take at least one year.
Their trip started from and will end at Atlantic City.
        "I think the public has been given a wrong impression of our
object in making this flight," said Lieutenant Turner yesterday.  "We are
not doing it with the object of making money, but for the purpose of
educating people in the real safety of flying.  We own our own plane, but
it is rather an expensive toy, as we are compelled to use it, and to
finance our trip we are charging a fee for rides.  Whenever we have an
opportunity we give talks on flying, especially to young men, and try to
convince our hearers that traveling through the air is not as dangerous
as they may think.

                COMMON SENSE ESSENTIAL

        "The one essential of a good aviator is common sense.  Trick and
stunt flying have no place in everyday air travel, and were only meant
for war purposes when clever maneuvering becomes sometimes a flyer's only
chance to escape with a whole skin.  In our opinion it is just as
reasonable for a flyer to insist on his machine doing stunts as for the
owner of a flivver to make it rear up on its hind legs, so to speak.
True we have given and expect to give exhibitions of trick flying, but
only when we are asked for a special program of this sort.
        We have been very successful in securing recruits for flying
because we first demonstrate to them the safety in the art."
        We use the machine the United States and her Allies used at all
instruction camps, the British Avro cruiser, considered by many
authorities as the world's safest commercial and military airplane."
        The flyers expect to leave this city Saturday, and will carry a
letter from Governor Edwards to Governor Sproul, at Harrisburg, their
next stop.  Both young men are loud in their praise of the treatment
accorded them since coming to Trenton.


ILLUSTRATION:   [Map of U.S. with capital cities connected with zig-zag
                 lines]
     Caption:   ROUTE OF AIRPLANE CIRCUMNAVIGATING UNITED STATES


The State Gazette, Trenton, NJ, Fri., June 4, 1920:
p. 1, c. 4 & p. 2, c. 1-4 -

AERIAL TRIP PURE
        PLEASURE, GAZETTE
                REPORTER ASSERTS
        ----------------
All Feeling of Fear Leaves
 When One Views Beautiful
     Landscape Below.
     ----------------
    PROUD OF HOME CITY
    ------------------
    By MARION MACROBERT.

        I don't believe the average citizen whose only trips heavenward
are for the purpose of adjusting the awnings or painting the roof is much
interested in the subject of aeronautics.  He has never known the joy of
soaring through the air and never expects to.  His wife and family and
his insurance policy would not approve, so, as far as he is concerned,
the aviators may have all of the welkin they think they need in their
business, and all he asks is enough good solid earth on which to build
his home and perhaps raise a hop vine.
        But the average citizen and his wife like to read about the
thrills of other people, and that is my excuse for coaxing enough space
to tell about mine.
        First of all, that you may not think of me as a brave and
fearless newspaper woman, I want to explain to you that I am a physical
coward.  Mentally, perhaps, I am brave enough to face whatever rituals an
eccentric fate may have up her sleeve; but I know exactly what somebody
or other in the Bible meant when they said, "The spirit is willing but
the flesh is weak."  That's me, every ounce of my 170 pounds is weak, and
though I may plan brave things and ever carry them through, every bit of
that same solid flesh and bone turns coward and raises cain with my courage
during the operation.

                AFRAID OF HEIGHT.

        F'rinstance, I have never been able to look out of a high window.
The minute my eyes tell my nerves I am over five or six feet from the
ground, the horrible news is carried to my knees and these two traitors
at once begin to wabble.  Immediately I am in a blue funk and have to get
down to asphalt immediately.  This cowardice of mine sometimes interferes
seriously with my work, for now and then I am assigned to cover an
eclipse or some other heavenly disturbance which requires leaning out of
a window of the fifth and highest floor of the State Gazette building.  I
might dodge the assignment, but in that case I would not be a good sport,
so I dutifully hie me to the top, tightly grasp the window sill with both
hands and carefully study the sky-- with both eyes shut tight.  Then I
call up the weather man, who tells me all about the sun, moon or stars,
as the case may be.  In this way my assignment is conscienciously taken
care of, but I despise myself for my weakness the remainder of the night.

                BRAVERY TURNED TURTLE.

        By this you will understand just how I felt when Sergeant George
Smith, the recruiting officer, who brings me recruiting items for the
paper, told me I might go up in an aeroplane, if I wanted to, and
distribute publicity matter for the army.  Did the spirit rise joyfully
to the occasion?  It did.  Of course, I wanted to go, had always wanted
to go.  But a minute after I had accepted the sergeant's offer my bravery
turned turtle and I wished I had said no, but I didn't tell the sergeant
that.  Instead I went with him to Stacey park to meet Lieutenants Runser
and Turner and to make arrangements for my ordeal.  When I saw the trim
Avro cruiser and the two men in charge of it, the bravery played a return
engagement, and I was glad I had accepted.  I knew I would be perfectly
safe in the hands of these two quiet men.  I liked them.  I liked their
diffidence in talking about the things they had accomplished, for
experience has taught me that the man who really does things has little
time for talking, and I was perfectly satisfied when they told me to be
on hand yesterday at 1 o'clock.
        By the time I was out of sight of the flyers old cowardice came
back with a gleeful chuckle and Wednesday night was a horror for me.
When I finally went to sleep I dreamed of an old lady dying a slow death
with a big black cat cuddled tight in her arms, and other horribly
unlucky things.

                COURAGE CAME BACK.

        I was on the field at 1 o'clock, however, brave once again, but
something was wrong with the Avro and Lieutenant Turner, clad in blue
overalls, was administering monkey wrenches and castor oil to the engine,
and I faced a wait of two more hours.  This time I spent with Mrs.
Runser, who is accompanying her husband on his trip, and during my talk
with her my courage came back and stayed.
        Finally, we were ready.  The helmet was buckled on my head and
several willing hands did a derrick act and landed me safely in the car.
I found that I was to have a fellow passenger, F.J.Woolf, treasurer of
the Moument Pottery company, whose hobbies are flying machines and
amateur photography.  He had his camera with him and promised me some
pictures should he be successful in getting any.  He also took charge of
the army leaflets and told me just to sit tight and enjoy the scenery.
We were all set.  Lieutenant Turner scattered the upwards of a hundred
small boys who were watching operations, turned the propellor and away we
went, with Lieutenant Runser driving.  I held tightly to the machine,
expecting some queer sensation when it took the air, but there wasn't any
sensation.  The earth just dropped away from us and gave us a chance to
see how pretty it could be if it wanted to.
        There wasn't any thrill in the flying, it was all in the
anticipation, and I feasted my eyes on the beauties that are visible only
to aviators and birds.  I saw Trenton's pretty homes, I admired their
pretty yards, both front and back, and the higher I flew the prouder I
became of my home city.  We went over the city toward East Trenton and
Mr. Woolf stood up and attended to his photography.  He had a reassuring
smile for me, and I had a smile ready for him for I was perfectly happy
and unafraid.  I thought of falling just once, but again I was not
afraid, the earth looked so cool and friendly and the engine was
throbbing with a steadiness that set all doubt at rest.

                AWED BY BEAUTY.

        Then we left the city and flew toward the Country club, and I saw
the green and brown fields all spread out like a patchwork quilt for my
approval.  Some of them had rows and rows of growing vegetables, the
colors of these making lovely patterns, past which the Delaware flowed
like a slate colored ribbon.  I was awed with the beauty of it all, and I
could not have spoken if there had been any one to talk to.  And all at
once I understood why aviators are often silent men; they see things that
cannot be expressed in mere words.  I understood to a great extent why
many hundreds of them fought and died for their country;  they feel the
same pride in it I felt and to preserve its beauty, its calm, its peace,
are willing to give all they have.  If I had my way, every man who shows
a tendency to work against the peace of this country would be sent up in
an aeroplane and kept up there until he understood the things I
understood yesterday.
        We had reached the Country club and I expected to experience some
novel sensation in landing, but the golf links, covered with buttercups,
kindly came up and met us, and once more the wheels sped over the solid
ground and I came down to earth in more ways than one.
        Getting out with a pair of strong arms waiting to catch me if I
fell, wasn't half as hard as getting in.  I wondered what the first words
of Mr. Woolf to Lieutenant Runser would be.  They were:  "Boy, boy,
you've got some engine!"  And while those two blessed men talked engine,
and the superiority of the British plane, in which we had made the trip,
over the kind in general use in this country, I collected my faculties
and wondered what I would get for supper, for it seemed as though I was
hungrier that I had been for days.
        Lieutenant Turner and Mrs. Runser arrived with my hat, which I
had left in their care, and there was a big touring car waiting to take
me back to the "Gazette."  Mr. Woolf had the precious roll of films ready
so that I might have a picture for the "Gazette" this morning, and after
thanking Lieutenant Runser for what I know was one of my very happiest
afternoons I came back to tell you all about it.
        Oh, yes!  The county jail photographed beautifully.


PHOTO:    [Aerial photo of Trenton]
Caption:  HOW THE CITY OF TRENTON LOOKS TO AN AVIATOR FLYING AT AN
          ALTITUDE OF 1,500 FEET.  The Junction of Broad and Market
          streets and the county jail show plainly in the foreground,
          the new Rider College and the roofs of the Armory and Moose
          home.



The Patriot, Harrisburg, PA, Sat., June 5, 1920:
p. 1, c.  -

PLANE ARRIVES TODAY
        FROM TRENTON; INVITE
                MAYOR TO TAKE FLIGHT

        Co-operating with the United States Army in encouraging young men
to enlist in the air service, Lieutenants Runser and Turner, formerly of
the aviation corps will arrive in this city this afternoon as a part of a
trip to the Capital of every state in the Union.
        They are on their way here from Trenton, N.J., and will land at
the field at Seventeenth and Sycamore streets this afternoon.  Tomorrow
afternoon they will give exhibition flights over the city, demonstrating
the safety of air travel.
        An invitation will be extended to Mayor Hoverter to make a flight
in the machine, a big three-passenger British Avro cruiser with a
nine-cylinder rotary motor.
        The flyers are carrying messages from Governor Edwards, of New
Jersey, to Governor Sproul, but will be unable to see him as the governor
has left for Chicago to attend the Republican national convention.
        The trip across the continent on which the aviators are now
engaged wille extend over a year and is for the purpose of interesting
people in the fact that flying is not an especially hazardous but on the
contrary, a comparatively safe mode of travel.



The Courier, Harrisburg, PA, Sun., June 6, 1920:
p. 1, c.  -

AVIATOR TO WALK OVER PLANES
        TODAY DURING FLIGHT

Picture:  Roscoe hanging by knees from landing gear axle of Jenny

DARING AVIATORS
        TO ARRIVE TODAY
        -------
   One Will Walk Over
  Planes and Hang From
      Running Gear
        --------
        Airplane demonstrations in the interest of furthering the use of
airplanes for commercial purposes will be given over Harrisburg today by
a trio of flyers who saw service during the World War.
        The trio is circumaviating America in the world's greatest
commercial flight visiting the capital city of every state.  Harrisburg
is the second capital city to be visited, the flyers having started from
Atlantic City, N.J., hitting Trenton as the first capital city.
        The plane piloted by Lieutenant H.J.Runser, of Fort Wayne, Ind.,
and carrying Lieutenant Roscoe Turner of Mississippi, wing walker
performer and mechanician is scheduled to arrive from Trenton at 10
o'clock this morning.  Governor Edwards of New Jersey, planned to come to
Harrisburg in the plane but was forced to cancel the trip because of
business reasons.
        Before landing at the Harrisburg flying field, Seventeenth and
Sycamore streets, the plane will circle the city, giving a photographer
on board an opportunity to take some pictures of Pennsylvania's capital.
        Arrangements for the demonstrations were completed last night by
Eddie M. Freeland, a pilot, who is the outfit's advance agent.
Harrisburg is the first city to turn over a commercial flying field for
the aviators' use and assure co-operation in the demonstrations, Mr.
Freeland said.
        Hanging from the machine's running gear by the knees, standing on
his head on the airplane wings and numerous other exceptional stunts by
Lieutenant Turner are among the performances during the exhibition at the
field scheduled for this afternoon.
        A British Avro machine is used in the demonstrations and is
considered one of the fastest and most reliable in use in this country,
according to Mr. Freeland.
        From Harrisburg the flyers will go to New York where they will
give demonstrations to raise funds for the New York aero police.  From
the metropolitan city the flyers will go to Albany and then to capital
cities of every state in the Union.


The State Gazette, Trenton, NJ, Mon., June 7, 1920:
p. 1, c. 1 & p. 4, c. 4 -

TRENTONIAN MAKES
        165 MILE TRIP TO
                HARRISBURG BY AIR
        ----------------
 Avro Aeroplane Arrives
Safely, Despite Terrific
    Rain-Wind Storm.
    ---------------
  WOULD ESTABLISH CLUB
      -----------
        For the purpose of proving conclusively to Trentonians the
comparative safety of air travel, F.J.Wolf, treasurer of the Monument
Pottery company, yesterday made an interesting trip to Harrisburg, Pa.,
as the guest of Lieutenant Runser, one of the trio of aviators who made
several flights over the city last week.  Driving the trim Avro cruiser,
the aviator sent his machine along at a 60-mile ground clip against a
headwind of 50 miles per hour.  Despite this apparent handicap, the party
landed at Harrisburg after 2 hours in the air, a difference of 2 and a
half hours train time.  Mr. Wolf, after returning to this city last
evening, said that the trip was beyond description, the insignificance of
man compared to the elements beggering words.
        The Avro machine, carrying Lieutenant Runser, Mechanician Turner
and Mr. Wolf as passengers, with the combined weight of 675 pounds,
including 150 pounds of tools, left the Trenton Country club at 9:15
o'clock yesterday morning and arrived at the Harrisburg aviation station
at 11:15 o'clock.  Immediately after leaving the ground, the machine
ascended to a height of 2,500 feet, which was maintained practically
throughout the trip, with the exception of one sudden mount to 6,000 feet
to avoid an ugly looking cloud that threatened to cause trouble.

                RAN INTO STORM.

        Sixty miles out of Trenton a terrific storm was encountered.  The
rain was dodged, but the Avro ploughed its way by compass through the
50-mile gale without faltering.  The small machine which weighs 1,200
pounds, was propelled by its LeRhone 9-cylinder engine all the way with
its throttle half open, an exceptional feat, considering the weather
conditions.
        Mr. Wolf, who is an amateur flyer, with approximately fifty
flights to his credit, has the distinction of being the only Trentonian,
if not the only civilian in the country, to fly from one capital city to
another.  To say that he enjoyed the trip is putting it too mildly.  Mr.
Wolf, upon arrival here last night, was positively elated, and believes
that he has proven to all skeptics that commercial air travel is both
practical and expedient, and that the city is far behind even such a
"second rate place" as Harrisburg in aviation.  The Pennsylvania city,
besides having a government aviation station, about three or four miles
outside its confines, also has a private field supported by its residents
for their own pleasure and business needs.  Eighteen pictures of
delightful scenery were taken by the Trenton enthusiast.

                COOL-HEADED DRIVER.

        Lieutenant Runser, who was in charge of the English machine, is
described by Mr. Wolf as being one of the most efficient and cool-headed
aviators that he has had the pleasure of riding with-- and that is saying
something, as the Trentonian has had many and varied experiences with
aviators in the ten years that he has been mounting to the clouds in all
manner of airbusses, starting with an Wright "box-car" biplane in
Chicago, when air travel was not safe.  He says that never during the
trip did he have the least fear, and that is not boosting, but a tribute
to the splendid and capable manner in which the visiting aviator
controlled his machine.
        The Susquehanna river, Mr. Wolf says, could be seen 100 miles
ahead, looking like a silver ribbon.  After traveling 165 miles through
the air, the Avro alighted at the government station, but only long
enough to take on gasoline and away it went again, this time to the
private field at 14th and Sycamore avenues, Harrisburg.
        The following telegram was received by the State Gazette after
the party had safely arrived: dated Harrisburg, Pa., 12:26 (old time).
        "Had wonderful cross country flight to Harrisburg.  Got 18
pictures.  Will advise about trip upon arrival tongiht at 8 o'clock.
                                                "F..WOLF."

                FLIGHT NOT FATIGUING.

        After flying to the Pennsylvania city in 2 hours, Mr. Wolf
reached this city following four hours and thirty minutes on the train,
and he said that the flight did not fatigue him as much as an automobile
run to Philadelphia over rough roads.
        In making these trips Mr. Wolf is not looking for personal
publicity, but is simply attempting to prove to the folks of his home
town that air travel is now safe.  The United States, says Mr. Wolf, is
far behind England and France in commercial air travel, and Americans
should awake to its possibilities.  One of the many ways in which the
casual person may become interested in aviation is by the establishment
of a aeroplane club here as in other cities, and such a club is Mr.
Wolf's ambition-- to put Trenton on the map-- or, would it be better say,
in the air.


The Evening News, Harrisburg, PA, Mon., June 7, 1920:
p. 3?, c.  -

NEW JERSEY AVIATORS
        MAKE TRIP TO HARRISBURG

        Flying here yesterday morning from Trenton, N.J., in an Avro
cruiser plane, Lieutenant H.J. Runser and Lieutenant Roscoe Turner,
brought a message of greeting from Governor Edward to Governor Sproul.
The State's chief executive, however, was not here to receive the note.
        Before landing at Seventeenth and Sycamore streets, the flyers
stopped at the Middletown Aviation Depot for aobut an hour.  Unfavorable
weather conditions made it impossible for them to attempt any of the
spectacular which they had planned for city folks.  However, a number of
city folks were taken up in the air for a spin.
        The flyers intend to visit every state in the Union and are
figuring on making a 20,000-mile trip.  Their plan was to spend a day or
so here and then jump off for New York, stopping en roue, probably at
Lebanon and Reading.


The Patriot, Harrisburg, PA, Mon., June 7, 1920:
p. 6, c.  -

BRING NOTE FROM
        TRENTON BY PLANE

Governor Edwards Sends Mes-
        sage to Governor Sproul
        Via Air Route- Flyers Post-
        pone Exhibition

        Owing to the extremely high winds prevailing yesterday afternoon
the scheduled exhibitions by aviators Lieutenant H.J.Runser, and
Lieutenant Roscoe Turner, who arrived in this city yesterday morning,
[Sunday June 6, 1920] had to be deferred.
        In connection with Eddie M. Freeland, Lieutenants Runser and
Turner have entered upon a flight of over 20,000 miles, their intention
being to visit every state in the Union.  The world's present record for
long-distance flight from London to Australia was a trip of 11,000
miles.
        The plane containing Runser and Turner, and F.J.Wolf, of Trenton,
N.J., arrived in the city yesterday morning about 11 o'clock, after a
short stop of an hour at the Middletown aviation grounds.  According to
Lieutenant Runser, who piloted the machine no trouble was experienced on
the trip except that it was necessary to fight against strong head winds
almost the entire distance from Trenton, N.J., which caused considerable
delay and two hours was required in making the journey.
        Large crowds were assembled upon the grounds at Seventeenth and
Sycamore streets in anticipation of the arrival of the plane, and the
exhibitions that were to follow.  Some of the favorite tricks of
Lieutenant Turner consist of standing and walking upon the wings of the
machine while flying a distance of five or six hundred feet in the air,
hanging by his knees upon the running gear, standing on his head on the
wings, and many other hair-raising stunts.  Scores of persons left the
grounds disappointed, but on account of the high winds Mr. Turner felt
the adventure somewhat to risky.
        Numerous pictures of Harrisburg and vicinity were taken from the
plane by Mr. Wolf, of Trenton, N.J., yesterday noon upon the first flight
over the city.  Several flights were made in the afternoon by Pilot
Runser with a number of Harrisburgers as passengers, including
R.C.Hoover, and Hunter T. Houck of 1021 Hemlock street.

                Governor to Governor

        Governor E.J.Edwards, of New Jersey, was unable to accompany the
aviators on the trip as he had originally planned, but wrote a short
letter Governor Sproul, which was entrusted to Pilot Runser, and will be
delivered to Secretary McDavitt today as Governor Sproul is at present in
Chicago.  The letter reads as follows:

                State of New Jersey
                Executive Department
                        June 3rd, 1920
        "My dear Governor:  My compliments to you from New Jersey.
Lieutenants Runser and Turner, whose intention it is to visit every state
capitol in the Union via the air route flew here today on the first leg
of their journey.  I was unable to take advantage of their kind offer to
fly over the state capitol in the city of Trenton and I sort of passed
the honor along to you.  I bespeak your courtesy for these gentlemen.
                Cordially yours,
                    E.J. EDWARDS, Governor

        The aviators will leave here today or tomorrow for New York, with
possible stop-overs at Lebanon and Reading.  After leaving New York they
will work up through the New England states and then westward.  Pilot
Runser stated the trip to New York could possibly be made in about two
hours' time.
        The plane used in this world's longest flight is an Avro Crusier,
an English make machine.  The Avro carried over 30,000 passengers in
England alone last season without a fatality.  At one time the Prince of
Wales was a passenger in this type of plane.

Abstracts (c) Copyright 1993 Stephanie L. Sandy

Data transcription by: Milton Sandy, Jr. Corinth, MS - July 13, 1993