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"On September 13th 1757, John Childs completed the first flight in
America. Tethered to a rope, and attached to a feathered glider, he flew
about 700 feet from the steeple of the Old North Church to the ground. He
had placed an advertisement in the Boston Gazette on the day before, and
many spectators witnessed this event. Brandishing pistols on his third
flight, and with local business completely disrupted in the area, the town
leaders barred him from any more sorties. An account was published
in the September 23rd 1757 issue of the New-Hampshire Gazette:
"[Last] Tuesday in the afternoon John Childs, who had given public notice
of his intention to fly from the steeple of Dr. Cutler's Church, performed
it to the satisfaction of a great number of spectators; and Wednesday in the
afternoon he again performed it twice; the last time he set off with two
pistols loaded, one of which discharged in his descent, the other missing
fire, he cocked and snapped again before he reached the place prepared to
receive him. It is supposed from the steeple to the place where the rope was
fixed was about 700 feet upon a slope, and that he was about 16 & 18 seconds
performing it each time. As these performances led many people from their
business, he is forbid flying any more in the town. The said Childs says he
has flown from the highest steeples in England, and off the Monument, by the
Duke of Cumberland's Desire."
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