The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-12-30

flight he made in Joplin, Mo-, early
this year. He had made a splendid
flight and fifty thousand people were
watching his maneuverings with tense
interest, when, while turning a corner
of the field, the machine was struck byI
an air current. Quick as a flash the
machine tiled, vibrated, while Mars
struggled with the mechanism. He
rose in his seat and threw the weight
of his 100 pounds to regain the equili-
suddenly the propeller snapped off ard
the machine began to drop to the
ground swiftly.
Down it came straight toward the
bleachers. Il threatened to kill, main,
bruise a mass of people. Suddenly he
shot Up one of the forward levers. The
aeroplane tlcmbled, tilted upward and
then skinned less than a foot above
the heads of spectators, and shot into
meadow. 1t was a case of steady
hand and iron nerve and the daring
young aviator had won out and prevent
ed a tragedy.
Mars was born in Michigan, on the
shores of the lake of that name. His
people were seafarers and he intended
following in their footsteps. This was
not to be, for he finally dIifted into
Chicago and became a newsboy, first
selling Chicago Tribunes on the streets.
He aspired to the stage and finally went
on as a singer. The circus lured Mars
away from the theater. A trareze
troupe engaged him and he was tossed
through the air from hand to hand,
turning somersaults en- route.
l,n -, n nd
Tod Sloane. but the fact that he bad
a Jockey, as he liked three square meals
every day. He became a high diver
with circus. Once he studied law,
and then about this time he met Capt.
Thomas Baldwin, the pioneer auronaut,
whose dirigible ballooning feats were
being discussed the world over. Bald
win took an interest in Mars, and then
he was billed on gaudy Autographs as
e" Mars, the Lion Nerved Daredevil. in
His Death Defying Parachute Leap
Understudy of Baldwin.
From the time he made his first as
cension and parachute leap under the
direction 70 Captain Baldwin, Mars has
peen a constant student of aeronautics.
He has never been an amateur, for his
first ascension was made when he was
but sixteen years old.
In 1902 he again joined Captain Bald
win in Los Angeles, where during the
winter they built one of the first and
most successful airships, or dirigible
balloons. This was the California Ar
row. which also made flights at the
st. Louis Exposition. In 1909 he went
to Oakland where he became official
pilot of the Oakland Aero Club. In the
early part of this year Los Angeles held
the first big aviation meet in the West,
where were gathered Glenn Curtiss,
Paulhan, the Frenchman, Hamilton,
Willard and many others. But up tot
that time he had not become acquaint-
ed with the aeroplane.
That meet ended Ma s. ballooning
days and he went to Hammondsport, !
New York, where he became a pupil
of Curtiss. He learned to fly ia the
winter time. He made his frs profess
siOnal fight in Memphis, Tennessee,
sharing honors with Curtiss. The meet |
would have been marred by a terrible |
accident but for Mars quickness of |
action. When near the gIandstand he |
started to descend. The wind was too
strong and he was whizzing straight for |
the grandstand. He came down into |
the LOnueau OI IN dulOg Dut MS lndculne |
was partially wrecked against the land
skdder.
Mars has been married many years,
his wife being formerly Miss Marie
Ethridgc of Portland, Oregon. She was
but sixteen years of age then and
doesn't look many years older now. She
is a very tiny bit of femininity, but
of nerve for soaring the upper
regions only little less aceentuated
than that of her husband.
The Curtiss machines now here have
a spread of main planes Of thirty.twO
feet, five inches.
Scully Financing Meet.
j. r. Scully, proprietor of the Savoy
and Empire theaters, is one of the local
men financing the thTee'day's meet.
The tickets will DO on sale at once, the
plan being 10 charge one dollar per
ticket for each day. Transportation Is
10 be furnished from the end of the
ear line 10 mo polo field for those who
may wish that method OF getting 10
the field, The polo field offers exeep'
tlonal opportunities for tho parking OF
automobiles and several hundred can
easily be accommodated around the 10
served section The tickets viii DO
nn sale at the Empire theater,
ray THIS PoR INFLUENZA.