The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-06-18

Airships 1s1t
o the GapitaI
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oEsuc-
cESSFULslATTEM 8
AERIAL NAvIGA- Csc
TON y : = 3

-, ! Ne " vest WI S1l11ao 4dSI week COLI
tanned a short telegram from Wash
inston city, telling of an airship which
had come to that city. had circled
around the Washington monument and
had attracted the. attention OF thou
sands in the city. The Washington
Post gives an account Of the visit Of
the ship in much greater detail II is
as follows:
aeronaut, in the knabenshue air ship
No. 2. sailed around the monument
twice Thursday. visited the White
House. and went down Pennsylvania
avenue above the Post building.
alishtins on the south side OF the Cap
itol. amid the cheers OF several thou
sand persons. his visit to the Capitol
stopped the wheels OF national legis-
lation and left Senator Bailey address
ing empty chairs. Less than IS Rep
resentatives remained in the House.
and without a quorum no business
was transacted until the sky pilot
arose again like an immense bird and
sailed away to Luna Park. whence he
had started at 10 A NJ.
Drivers left their delivery wagons
full Of groceries standing wherever
they happened to be and ran for the
most convenient places to see the air.
ship Switch tenders ran away from
their posts and left the cars to get by
the crossing the best way they could
Clerks dropped their pencils. stem
osraphers deserted their typewriters.
and the windows of Office buildings
were stuffed full of persons craninS
their neckS TO see the daring young
sky pilot as he cody rode along on
his viii and waving back at tie thou
sands of hats and handkercliiefs he
saw down where the world was.
Did you see it?'' everybody was
asking everybody else. and-rhis quer:'
became so monotonous to some that
they pinned little typewriter badges
on their lapeis. which read, II saw
it,
Down town looked like inaugural
day. and everybody got full Of the
craze. taking it home with him and
passing it among his neiShbors-
Beachey did everything he said he
would do when he came to Washing
ton. June u, to fill a weeks engage
ment for knabenshue. the recognized
king of the air. He said he would sail
-, = Sc be
intinerary Just as he did. and sail
right back into the booth. where the
air craft is now resting for another
fight, of which there will be several
before the engagements end June Is.
1T was the easiest fight I have
ever made" said the navigator, who
fell out of the sky at Cleveland a few
days ago and was Slightly injured.
The air was just calm enough. the
sights We're beautiful. and everybody
l saw had on pleasant smile and a
mouthful Of cheers Washington looks
like a hugh flower garden full Of block
houses and bugs as seen from the Sky.
l could family hear the cheering and
dimly see the salurations as passed
along. AS I started up after my rest
at the Capitol. one man shouted:
Keep your arms in or You will get
them knocked off by the stars" I may
be able to visit the stars before l get
through, because I'm not half done,
and the question Of navigating is no
.onSer an experiment. ! can go to
EfaSt in my aIrShin -
The airsnip first made its appear.
ance to Washington people shortly
after 10 o'clock, when it was observed
slowly growing bigger across the Po-
the little black spec on the frame be-
low the balion, which was the navi
gator. became more perceptible. the
excitement grew. and when Beachy
descended 1T the monument he found
himself in the midst Of curious
crowd The drivers We're lined with
grocery wagons. laundry wagons. au-
toEobi!es. bicycles, and other kinds
OF vehicles and the east side of the
monument was black with 4 mass Of
humanity
The first stop was made in order
that 4 slight break might be repaired.
Within half an hour Beachey climbed
upon the frame of the airship. ordered
those who held It at anchor TO lie:
so, and kissing his hand TO the crowd.
he arose and wound around the monu-
mcnt like spring. until he was near
its top. when ne drove northward and
to the White House The airship de-
Scended in the White House grounds