The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-01
DARING B|RDMEN
MAY v. ] CONE HERE
4Ai'v'iators Being Signed for Series
Of Meets III Leading
Cities.
RICHMOND RI! CT PUT IN THE LIST
Frederic Thompson Preparing
for Wonderful Flying Exhi-
billions by Stars.

=. { -
Richmond Is being considered IN con.
srection withsa great aviation project
which Frederic Thompson, builder OF
Luna Park and promoter of the New
York Hippodrome. is preparing to put
through In the shape OF a series OF
meets In the principal cities OF the
country this fall and winter at when
the worlds most famous birdmen VIII
compete.
Word was received from New YORK
last night that Thompson YESTERDAY
signed agreements with many yo, ax,at
tors who are participating at Belmont
Park for the proposed tour. The pro-
smoter and his assistant. James ROD
bins. secured the big field yesterday
afternoon. visiting hangers over when
float flags representing dozen ma
holding conferences with
men who have astonished the wortd
by their conquests OF IN" air. Every
sykman approached Is said to nave
expressed enthusiasm over the scheme.
Some Who May Join.
While the names Of those who nave
signed for the tour have not been an
nounced It is said that the list VIII
include Claude Grahame-White. De
Lesseps, Leblanc. Molsant, tombstone.
.Hoxsey, 8Radley, Brookins. Ely, Mars
nous, who have and have not CONF
.peted at the Belmont meet. AT any
event. II the plan carries, 1t is assured
that many of the aviators who have
thrilled thousands will visit other
parts Of the country and demonstrate
their skill.
The plants for the flock Of birdmen
to be taken from city to city during
the remainder OF the fall and winter
to compete for prizes as large as most
OF those offered at Belmont Park. The
gate receipts accruing from such exhi
bftions as are proposed should make
the awarding of such prizes possible
for the promoters and bring to them
handsome profits besides.
Robbins. the assistant OF Thompson.
yesterday gave out the following list
OF cities as being under consideration
in connection with the proposed ven
ture: Chicago. Cincinnati. Toledo. Rich
mond, Washington. Louisville. Mobile,
New Orleans. Charleston. Birmingham
Nashville. Memphis. Atlanta. Denver.
Salt Lake City. Seattle, Spokane. Kan
sas City, st. Paul. Milwaukee, Winni-
peg. Montreal, Toronto. st. Louis. Los
Angeles. San Francisco. AS Will be
seen. cities in Canada may also be
visited.
Great Chance Here.
Richmond naturally would be one OF
the cities to be visited by the dying
squadron. The great Interest taken in
Johnstone's work during the days OF
the Virginia State Fair furnishes the
hest evidence that the Thompson ag-
gregation of wonders of the air would
be we'll patronized here.
AS for staging facilities for such an
exhibition, the Fair Grounds are ideal,
and there are other places which would
do. Another thing Is that the people
would be attracted from all over the
State and from those adjacent to such
spectacle as would be nrescnted. The
whole country Is Interested In aviation,
and when It is considered Just how
comparatively few people have even
so much as laid eyes on modern fly
ing machine. 1t will at once be realized
Just what a gold mine Thompson's
scheme will likely prove II put in exc
.cution.
More definite details will likely be
given out In the next few days In the
meantime. the fact that Thompson pro-
poses to undertake the aviation con-
gress and that he has already enlisted
the enthusiasm and services OF the
men who can make 1t possible. FUR
ntshes the best indication that cites
all over the country are soon to have
opportunity to witness the great air
spectacles which heretofore have been
practically confined to the North.