The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-10-17
TOM BALDWIN
AT iowa CITY
Aviator Had Time Of it and Norman
kiedaisch, Former Newspaper
Writer, Tells Of What
he Saw.
CAPTAIN IN A FALL
fumbIed to the Ground and BipIane
Was Wrecked-Baldwin Says it
Costs 5000 to Learn
Flying Game.


Tom Baldwin, expert aviator, was
in Iowa City last week and had quite
a meteoric time of it. Several Keo-
XIX people happened to be present
end one of them, Norman Kiedaisch,
who is attending college there, pen
ned few lines for The Gate City.
He writes:
Several Keokuk people were among
the thousands who attended the
aviation meet at Iowa City last week.
Captain Baldwin of Quincy was the
aviator and his exhibitions were not
a total success. On only one oc-
casion, his first fight of yesterday,
did he satisfy the onlookers that he
could travel through space success
fully while the other times his ascen-
sions were slight, the machine carry
ing him but about quarter OF mile,
his final appearance and attempt con-
verting his fifty horse power biplane
into pile of debris. breaking most
of it and tearing loose and out of
place everything that wasn't splinter
ed, the pilot escaping practically I'M
injured. 1t will be some time before
he can emulate the birds again for
he will practically have to build his
snip over.
The successful trip came off yester-
day at half past three, the place being
the fair grounds. and the concourse
was treated to the sight of seeing the
ex-balloon man circle the fair grounds
several times and come safely to
earth. The feat caused great excite
ment. Not satisfied with that though,
and probably wishing to make up for
his Ill luck of the previous day,
Baldwin tried another At four thirty
his helpers let go of the artificial
bird and he was off At four thirty
one he was extricating himself from
tangled mass, uninjured but severe
ly shaken up. He was able to walk
back to his camp and later to help
gather In the wreck while the troops
kept souvenir seekers back, one fell
low attempting to carry off the pro-
peller while numerous individuals
slipped through the fence and picked
up splinters
On the near-fatal exhibition the
captain rose very slowly and narrow
" missed the stock barns at one end
OF the grounds. 1t was only few
seconds before he went right through
the upper branches of big tree, and
his engine stopping, just passed over
shed, alighting on the other side.
The biplane used was one of the
aViators own make, being pushed
forward by seven foot propeller
which received its impetus from a
nifty horse power Curtiss engine. 1t
was very simple continuance and
surprised a great many who expected
to see regular monster
In private talk given to few of
the students of the university, Bald
win stated that the average person
mas no idea of the part the air cur
rents play in the success or non-suc-
cess OF aeroplaning. They are the
Aheoo tudU Will nave W D6 COuQ GU
ne states. He also said that, while
at the present, bird men have the en-
gines in back of them, they will
eventually have to be placed in front
OF the driver. THAT is the only thing
We fear he declared, that our pow
er will fail us, and we should be able
TO see our power house all the time. "
Another interesting remark of his
was that the average air pilot seldom
thinks of danger to himself; he al
ways expects the other fellow to get
1t.
When preparing for an ascent, the
captain goes about it as nonchalantly
as man prepares for bicycle ride
and 1t is plain to see that he doesn't
lose much sleep over the pastime.
$1,000 was what he received for each
days fight. He says that it cost
him $4,000 to learn to fly, the sum
being invested in remaking the ship
after smashups.