The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-11-04
Sailed Through
the Air
Winning TriumphfOr
Toledo Boy.
CROWD WILD
Over Air Ships Sue
cessful Flight
Returned to Starting Place
After a Journey of Three
Miles.

St Louis, Nov. 1.-After circling in
every direction at height of 1000
feet above the Cascades, In sight of
thousands of cheering enthusiastic
spectators on the worlds fair grounds,
Roy Knabenshue, of Toledo, in COM
mand of Thomas S. Baldwin's airship,
California Arrow, yesterday returned
to the place from which he started,
covering 31z miles, part way against
an eight-mile wind.
Knabenshue started from the aero
nautic concourse at 3:37 p. m. and re-
turned at 4:05 p. m. On the return
trip the airship sailed slowly over the
exact spot from which it had risen %
minutes previously and glided about
100 feet further west, where 1t settled
to the ground.
The descent of the Arrow was the
signal for great demonstration.
Dozens of eager hands were up
stretched to grasp the frame of the
flying machine, which, with its navi-
gator, was carried around the con-
course on the shoulders of shouting
men. Hats were thrown into the air
and when Knabenshue called for
three cheers for his home town, they
were given with a will, and another
round followed for Knabenshue and
Baldwin.
The successful flight followed a day
full of encouragement. Baldwin and
Knabenshue had worked for 26 hours
without sleep to prepare for the flight
and the first essay at an ascent, with
Baldwin in command of the airship
had ended disastrously, the Arrow
falling suddenly to the ground and
breaking a blade of the propeller.
In half an hour the airship, repaired
was again brought from the aero
drome. At signal from Knabenshu,
the airship was cast loose and tn,
motor started.
The Arrow rose slowly and easily
its prov directed toward the west
When at a height Of 25 feet Knab
enshue turned the rudder and tn,
craft. answering to its helm. pointe'
south and continued its flight.
After proceeding about half mil
westward, Knabenshue turned tn
airship about and again passed owe
the course, at the same time increas
ing his altitude until he was 1000 fee
above the earth.
Sailing first to the northeast an
then to the southeast, occassionall
making complete turns, Knabenshu
continued in generally easterly di
rection until over the Cascades, tn
center of the worlds fair ground,
and about a mile and a half from tn
point of starting.
! About that time the light breez
that had been blowing from the ives
increased to about eight miles a
hour and veered to the north.
In order to return to the startin
point 1t was necessary for Knat
enshue to breast this breeze. Hi
} first effort to turn the airship from
course before the wind was unsuS
cessful. but Knabenshue, after tryin
, to turn to the left. swung the rudde
!, sharply in the other direction and th
Arrow came into the wind, staggere
: a moment and then sped toward th
concourse at a speed that caused th
spectators to cheer.
Knabenshue entered the concours
: from the east at height of 200 fe'
and, slowing the speed of the moto
directed the airship over the woode
frame that had supported the AFRO
: before the flight The momentum wa
too great to admit of stopping exactl
in the place from which he had mad
the ascent, but the airship settled
the ground within 100 feet of ii
dock.