Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1911 — 17,000 PERSONS WITNESS FLIGHT OF BIRD MEN. [ARTICLE]

17,000 PERSONS WITNESS FLIGHT OF BIRD MEN.

Five Successful Flights of 81-Planes At Lafayette Tuesday—Moter Stops In Mid-Air, But Aviator Lands In Safety. Those who weht to Lafayette Tues<day to witness the flights of the bird paen were well repaid for their trouble. The largest crowd ever assembled in West Lafayette, estimated at 17,000, witnessed the flights from Stuart field at Purdue University. George Ade and President Stone, of the University, who were advertised to take the trip with the aviators, did not do so. In fact, the airships were not constructed to carry passengers, and it would have been impossible to have taken the gentlemen along in the flights. z The flights were made by Lincoln Beachey and C. C. Witmer, who gave exhibitions at Evansville a few days ago. The entire aviation meet was without accident to the aviators or spectators, although Witmer’s engine went bad and stopped when he waft about seven hundred feet up, and he was forced to land in a field oij, the Purdue farm, a mile from the aviation grounds. He made the landing with ease and did not leave his seat. Beachy flew without a marring incident and had the immense crowd gasping at his daring from the moment his bi-plane started moving slowly along the ground. Early in the morning the people began to stream into Lafayette from every direction, by train, interurban, automobile, buggy and many afoot. By 10 o’clock the down town section was alive with people, automobiles and buggies. Shortly after 10:30 o’clock, the Monon excursion from Michigan City arrived, bringing in over eight hundred people, which is the greatest number an excursion had ever brought to that city. All through the morning the wind was too strong for flying, but about 3:30 o’clock it died down somewhat and Beachey decided that he would make his first attempt. Beachey’s machine was moved out onto the field amidst a roar of applause and the motor was started and tuned. It was then pushed over to the southeast corner of the field and the eight cylinder motor started again. The force of the exhaust threw a heavy cloud of dust into the faces of the spectators, who dodged and ducked good naturedly in all directions. With absolute stillness unbroken except by the roar of the motor, Beachey mounted his seat, adjusted his planes and gave the words. The mechanics let loose and the huge crowd watched with absolute silence as the first aeroplane ever moved under its own power in this part of the country. Starting slowly, the bird-like craft rapidly gained speed as it ran down the field on its three wheels. When opposite the north end of the covered bleachers, in the center of the field, the bi-plane rose from the ground lightly and easily, and carried its master up and up. At the moment the machine left the grqund, the crowd rose to its feet with one accord and the silence was broken with exclamations of and enthusiasm. When up about forty feet, a puff of wind caught the plane and it tilted perilously, but with never slackened speed It rose higher and higher until it seemed but a bugh bird fat above. At intervals the roar of the motor would reach the spectators, gazed above spell bound. Beachey twite circled the field and approached the starting place in a long drop that again brought the crowd tp their feet. Skimming above the heads of the people on the south bleachers, he dropped quickly to within a few feet of the ground, then in a long slant raced along without a jar and ran along the ground for about a hundred yards before it was stopped. Beachey "got out and started walking down the field and was met by a great roar of applause, which be modestly acknowledged. Witmer used the same plane in which he took his falls at Evansville last Friday and had considerable engine trouble. After a long* wait, through which the spectators sat quietly and patiently, Witmer’s bi-plane was pushed to the starting place and the engine started. Again the vast crowd watched silently while the young aviator took his seat Slowly, then faster and faster, the bi-plane moved, until without an effort, it left the ground and shot high Jnto'the air. Witmer’s’lligbt carried him far ipto the northwest, where he circled, returned to the field, circled around it twice, flew far to the south, and with a long, gradual drop, alighted again in the field. Shortly after Witmer’s flight, Beachey was again in his plane for the altitude flight. With a rear of his

motor, he smoothly left the ground and seemed to dart straight up, going into the northwest. He circled the field several times and then flew directly east, passing over much of Lafayette and circling around the court house down town, at a height of 3,000 feet or more. From Stuart field, the bi-plane and its human passenger seemed but a mere speck in the sky. Beachey swung around, and came back to the field, dropping rapidly and finally alighting. Beachey’s plane was brought back to the starting place and placed at the side of Witmer’s machine. For nearly half an hour the mechanics worked on Witmer’s engine, trying to make the cylinders hit. The motor refused to run right, but Witmer decided to keep the crowd waiting no longer, and with bis engine running poorly, left the ground and rose high in the air. Beachey immediately followed him and the two bi-planes were seen in the air at the same time. It was then that Beachey did the sensational flying of the afternoon. Dipping, dropping, swooping, he kept the crowds in constant excitement. Twice he dropped within a few feet of the ground, only to dart up again. Beachey spied an automobile leaving the field, flew directly above it and suddenly dropped. The occupants cowered down, expecting to be but the dare-devil aviator, when witinn a few feet of the car, swooped up again. Beachey’s spectacular flying had held the crowd and not until he alighted was it noticed that Witmer, who was flying high, was in trouble. His motor was missing fire and the bi-plane wavering uncertainly. When he was far outside the field, opposite the covered grandstand, the engine stopped completely and Witmer was left to make the best possible landing. He had sufficient height to select an open space and dropped easily into a pasture s on the Purdue farm, about a half mile south of State street. The crowds on Stuart field were in an uproar and hundreds ran to the scene. There was a sigh of relief when it was announced that Witmer was not injured. The ’bi-plane was taken down on the field where it landed and was crated for shipment to Boston, where they are to give an exhibition. Witmer said that it was the fourth time this engine had let him down and that he would immediately install a new motor.