This Day in History: 1911-11-06
Navy officer Galbraith P. Rogers, who had passed over Ramsey and Mahwah on September 17th, arrived at Los Angeles, California. He was the winner of the $50,000 prize offered by William Randolph Hearst to the first person to fly coast-to-coast in thirty days. He was mobbed by a large crowd. He still had 20 miles to go and completed his journey by landing on the Pacific Ocean beach. He had travelled 4,111 miles in 4,846 minutes actual flying time. At one time he held a broken connecting rod together with his hand while flying with his other hand. The rules did not permit Sunday flying, so his arrival fell within the 30 day limit. (Bristow)