The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-13
FIRST FLIGHT
Continued from Page one)

Clifford b. Harmon of New York, had
beea In the offing all day. 1t landed
triumphantly in the center Of the
field From it's basket Madame Louis
Paulhan had watched her husband in
his Farman biplane circling danger
ously. preparing for the qualifying
tests.
From behind the grandstand the
dirigible driven by Lincoln Beachey,
had risen over the field and gone after
the balloon. as rug after a tow in
rough sea.
Conditions Are Ideal.
Third day of the meet-San Diego
day-was perfect. The flags in the
grandstand hung limp. The field
basked in the warm sun. The crowds
poured in all day until the estimated
attendance was $4,000. The boxes
were gay with color and the stand a
solid mass of humanity. Down the
fence line, guarded by the 800 dep
uty sheriffs. the crowd surged for a
mile to the gates.
Stretched out before the eyes of
these fascinated people lay a plateau
dotted with the new designs in air
craft. Near one of the lower fences
PauIhan, hidden from the other avi-
atcrs. was tinkering with a new en-
CINE There was much French chat
ter and scampering about. In the
blue bowl of the sky, balloons were
hanging To the sea a level plain I'M
rolled. Across the valley rose wall
of rock and dim mountain and ming
ling cloud and snow. The big white
tents CT the foreign aviators and the
headquarters of Glenn Fl. Curtiss, hope
of America for the Iaurels of this meet
stood in the foreground. In front of
the tents. looking idly at the local av-
iators tinkering in their open air
shops, was cluster of cowboy sher-
ifs. guardians of the peace.
The morning passed with no move
ment from the tents Toward noon
Miscarol, in Bleriot noncompliance flew
down the far end of the course and
whetted the appetite of the crowd
which had grown by this time to ire
mendous proportions
New Engine Works Well.
PauIhan. whose name was on every
tongue, had been straining to get
away in the air all morning and
shortly befgOre noon began prepara-
tons in earnest. His new engine
proved to his satisfaction under re-
peated tests. He called his mechanic
ians and took his seat cranking
Of the propeller. followed and at last
an answering whirr. A cyclone was
generated by the blades that lifted
the hair of the four men bending at
the tail
Paulhan waved his hand gaily at a
group of Frenchmen.
Whistling to his little dog, he lifted
his arms as though about to fly with
out any aid but his own daring spirit,
and the skids left the. ground. Over
bumps Of rough field it swayed for a
few yards, then a faster whirr sound
ed from the machine and it launched
into the upper currents.
Curtiss idled nearby, watching from
narrowing eyes. AS Paulhan went
around the pyion marked course the
second time he turned abruptly to
two ladies who were gossiping with
him:
We'll, it is time l started to work."
he said
He entered his tent and peered at
the engine over which his men work.
ed These two men-Curtiss, keen
and silent-Paulhan. boyish and dar-
ing-represent the great contest of the
meet g 3.
After this first flight Paulhan hard
ly gave his engine time to cool before
he tried another-this time with Mas
sen as passenger. Apparently it was
as easy as the first; but ne did not
rise as high.
Things Begin to Happen.
At o'clock things began to happen.
T;sc balloons and the dirigibles driven
b Knabenshue and Beachey crowded
oY.- the course.
Two Curtiss machines were drag
ged to the white marked starting
place in front of the judges stand.
The maneuyering above the balloons
and dirigibles lifted the crowd to
wild spirit of shouting and waving.
a band played swinging waltz music
and the official starters and markers
took their places. The cowboy sher-
IFS were busy chasing photographers
away from the line of start.
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