Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23
NEWSPAPER MEN AS HOSTS
Aerial Phraseology Applied to the
Food and Drinks.
MADE BY NOTED MEN
Presentation of Album to Capt. Bald
win, Containing Photographs Of
His Dirigible Balloon.

and out-of town correspondents who have
been covering the airship trials at Fort
Myer united last night in dinner at
the Press Club in honor of Capt. Baldwin,
the first man who ever built a dirigible
balloon for the government. There was a
crowd of notable guests. including Gen.
Allen, the chief signal officer; the men,
bers Of the War Department board who
passed on the flights of the Baldwin ship.
DR.. Albert Zahm Of the Catholic Univer-
sity. Augustus Post of the Aero Club Of
America. Orville Wright, who Is now to
test his aeroplane at Fort Myer, and Lin
coin Beachey, one of Capt. Baldwin s
first pupils in aerial navigation.
The menu was built on the aeronautic
line, and included balloonettes, hydro
plane cocktails, fluid movement la Zahm
and a number of other aerial sounding
brands of food and drink.
One of the most important results of
the dinner was the appointment of two
committees. one to enlist the cooperation
of the newspapermen Of Washington in
the formation of an aero club boosting
organization, and the other. consisting
Of zen. Allen. DIR. Zahn. Mr.. Post and
Mr.. McLennan of the New York Herald.
to outline plans for Washington aero
club that. should be affiliated with the
Aero Club Of America and would act as
h
tee that will look after the aeronautical
congress that is to assemble in Wash
ingtOn this winter.
Gen. Aliens Hopes.
There were a number of speeches. Gen.
Allen outlined something of what he
hoped the army might accomplish in the
way, of aerial navigation. He said that
the machine now purchased and the 9TH
ers that were to be purchased were an
evidence of the real interest of the gov
eminent in the subject of aerial flight.
He said that, of course. whatever was
done in the future would depend on the
appropriations made by Congress, but
he thought the showing this fall would
be enough to insure the interest and sup
port of the military committee This
would mean that the United States after
period OF quieScence would again come
to the front, where she belonged, in the
ranks of air navigating nations
Mr.. Post assured Washington of the
hearty support of the Aero Club of Amer
lea In whatever was done here in the way
OF an aero organization. He also spoke
of the pioneer work done by Prof. Lang
ley of the Smithsonian institution in
aerial navigation.
Mr.. Wright was invited to talk on the
prospective performance of the aeroplane
he IS now assembling at Fort Myer, but
he said that ne would rather demonstrate
IMAM Talk, ana PROMISED 10 snow the news
paper men what the flying machine would
do and then talk afterward
Gift to Guest of Honor.
One feature o. the dinner was the pre-
sentation tt. Capt Baldwin of an album
containing series of photographs by Mr..
Cloudy Of tse airship from the time she
e emerged flom the balloon house to the
end Of her endurance test. There were a
number Of groups of distinguished visit
Ors in the collection and in the back of
the book were pasted stories Of the test
printed by the various correspondents
who had been detailed to write them up.
Lieut. Selfridge. who has been closely
identified with the work of the Aerial
Experiment Association at HammOnds-
port, N. Y. told something of the work OF
that association and gave an apprecfatfve
outline of the work of Glenn Curtiss, who
built the engine for Capt. Baldwin's dir
igible. Mr.. Curtiss who has become well
known and liked by all the reporters on
the Fort Myer tests, was not present but
a telegram signed by all present was sent
him regretting his absence from the din
ner.
Ira Bennett of the San Francisco Call
was to have presided at the dinner, but
he was unable to be present. His place
was taken by Jerome Fanciulli of the
Associated Press. who introduced the
speakers and steered smooth course fol
the evenings entertainment.
1t was one of the first of the dinners
that the members Of the Press Club have
planned to give in connection with the
aeronautic tests at Fort Myer and was
quite a success in bringing together the
newspaper men and the men who are
doing the practical work in the aerial
field.
The Diners.
Those present included Capt. Thomas s.
Baldwin, Gen. James Allen. chief signal
officer; Orville Wright, the aeroplanist;
DR.. Albert Zahm of the Catholic Univer-
sity; Augustus Post. secretary Auto Club
of America; Lincoln Beachey, the aero
naut Maj Sauier. Capt. Wallace. Lieuts.
Frank P. Lahm. Benjamin D. Foulois,
Thomas E. Selfridge of the Signal Corps.
and Ira E. Bennett. Wingrove Bathon,
Irving Sayford. the Washington Post;
Louis A. Mcmahon, the Washington Her
aid; Walter Fahey. the Washington
Times: John Mitchell, The Evening Star;
Russell M. McLennan, c. II. Claudy, the
New York Herald: Frank Dyer. the San
Francisco Chronicle; Alfred Geiger. the
New York Sun; Hal Smith. the. Balti-
more Sun. and Jerome 8. Fanciulli, the
Associated Press.