Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-06
First Public Exposition Of Far
mans Aeroplane at Brighton
Beach a Success.
CHEERS GREETED FLIGHT
Mosquitoes Came to the Inventors Aid
in Driving Back the Curious
Crowds-Mnchine Rose 20 Feet
and Flew in n Bcc Line
Exhibitions Daily.

New York Aug. 2.-IIenri Farman
who came from Paris to give a series OF
aoroplanc exhibitions under the manage
mcnt Of an American syndicate. made
his first public Tight IN this country, at
the Brighton Beach race track this even
ing. The exhibition was a success to the
extent that 1t demonstrated the inven-
tors ability to fly under favorable at
moSpheric conditions. and entertained
some 1000 enthusiastic spectators. Far
man Travelled from the eastern corner OF
the race track enclosure to the opposite
corner at the lower turn. n distance OF
nearly third of a mile In about 30 Soc
onds and I'D not appear to he hurrying
In rising. flying and lighting tho frail
looking air craft displayed bird like
grace and assurance.
Tho crowd was we'll pleased md after
shouting its congratulatlons from the
era ndstand bore down upon the inventor
with n rush that threatened damage to
the aeroplanc. AS the night was an I'M
promptu affair only decided upon after
the unexpected falling off OF stiff
breeze. few policemen were on hand. and
for time II looked as though Farman
would be the victim of his friends But
the mosquitoes which nfcst the enclosure
set upon the cheering crowd driving II
back pell nell to the race track. From
the grandstand. the handkerchief slap
ping defense had the appearance of n
Chatauqua salute for the seronaut
Then Farman climbed up into the an
nouncer's stand and was formally in
PRODUCED as tho man who had solved the
transportation problem of New York
This also pleased the underground and
surface line patrons and when the an
nouncer promised an overhead system of
travel In the near future the crowd
gave three cheers for Farman
Before the fight an hour was spent
in jockeying. the aeroplane being pushed
all over the enclosure by a dozen helpers
while Farman running ahead. searched
for the air current which suited his pur-
pose. With one hand he directed the
machine first this way aud then that and
with the other he slapped desperately at
the mosquitoes that were making life n
| burden to him, his assistants and the
photographers who followed after. Finally
al spot directly in f. II If tho club
house the aeroplane was turned facing
the west and with the aid of a ladder its
creator mounted. The power having been
turned on, the two insignificant looking
| propeller blades whirred and the machine
reared and trembled like an impatient
automUb,le Then Il moved slowly for
ward on It's four bicycle wheels. Perhaps
a hundred feet had been covered when at
AN incline so gradual that the point OF
uctachment could not be determined a
! few yards away, the toy bird found It's
wings II arose TO a height Of twenty feet
land sped in bee line without a tremor.
liNth ita supports and Wheels suggesting
dangling legs and clenched claws. the
white winged affair looked for all the
world like a frightful creature OF the air.
| Nearing the lower turn the inventiu1
slowed down at a decline and settled to
the ground as gently as its prototype
might cover a nest of eggs.