The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-07-14
SHAM SEA BATTLE
CurtiSsDrOpS" Bombs From
AerOpIane on Yacht.
SPECTACULAR STUNTS SEEN
Brookins Dashes Through Surf in
Biplsne and Makes spirals High
in Air That Made Spec
tators Gasp.

Atlantic City. July 13.-Crossing the
sailing line OF the yacht John Z.
Mehre, I'd, used as a target in place OF
a batleship, Glenn Curtiss. using or
anges as bombs" gave an exhimition
OF his ability to drop high explosives
on the deck OF the craft. Fearing harm
10 the officials and ladies on the yacht,
Curtiss placed his missiles SO accu'
rately alongside that spray was thrown
over the gowns of the women. Then,
whirllng away. Curtlss took his plane
far out to sea and beyond the range
of anything but a twelve-inch gun.
while the yacht passengers and watch
ers shuddered at the thought OF the
possibilities had the bombs been
spheres of real explosives and the
trim and glistening craft the object OF
real attack
The trial shows absolutely that the
day OF the battleship for attack on for
eign cities is nearing its end" declared
Colonel William Allen Jones, U. S. A.
retired, formerly of the engineer corps.
"Curtiss could have dropped a bomb
ON the deck of even that small craft
with Just as much ease and certainty
as he showed when he spun them
close enough to the vessel to show his
ability without endangering the people
on board.
LAS for hitting that swooping aero
plane from the deck of battleship. II
would be practically impossible except
with rifle balls, and both driver and
engine could be protected with the
lightest sort of armor or bullet proof
CLOTH" concluded the army official.
Following his sham attack on the
mock battleship. Curtiss dropped more
orange bombs at circular mark on
the beach to show the ease with which
he could hurl explosives into the camp
OF soldiers
After the sham battle Walter Brook
ms gave another of his thrilling ex-
hibtions Of his ability TO handle the
big Wright machine, by making a
series of whirling turns. ending with a
daring rush through the surf in which
his runners were buried in a monster
breaker. The crowd. who thought that
the youngster was about TO tumble in
to the ocean. broke out into cheers
wher he lifted his plane into the air
and landed safely on the beach.
There followed such maneuyers and
such dangerous stunts as probably
never before have marked an aviation
meet.
Seems to Turn Completely.
Most spectacular and thrilling of all
was the feat that the aviator called
the bank Apparently he turned COM
pletely over with his machine while
hundreds of feet above the heads of
the spectators.
The daring aviator would take his
machine to a good height so that II
was plainly visible to all the dense
and cheering throng. Then he would
point the prov" OF his vessel almost
straight upward, while his motor hum
med busily.
While in this almost perpendicular
position he gave his rudder plane
quick turn and whilred round and
round, seeming to turn the machine
upside down and clear over.
Then came another stunt little less
wonderful causing men and women
below to catch their breath in aston
ishment at the daring Of the man.
Brookins scared beautifully. then
gave his rudder the required twist and
went whirling around again. this time
using one of his supporting planes as
a pivot.
II was for all the world like a dan
Ger whirling on one toe. This feat
again brought out chorus OF cheers
from the crowds.
A sort of "zig.zag" or "crisscross"
was the next maneuver to cause the
crowd to marvel. BroOkins took his
machine high In the air then darted
down about twenty yards to the right.
Quickly reversing. he would dart
similar distance down to the left. In
this way, alternately darling to right
and left, he descended to within about
200 feet of the crowds.
Brookins was In the air eighteen
minutes, showing the wonderful con-
troll he had of the machine.
The meet ended formally on Tues
day, the aviators being presented with
the prizes won during the meet.
Brookins received $4,000 for his feat
In breaking the worlds altitude rec
ord, while Curtiss pocketed a similar
sum for his establishment of fifty
miles straightaway race record. TWEEN
tytwo fights have been made during
the ten days of the meet, and the Off
cials are happy over the success of
the first affair of its kind in Atlantic
City.