Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-10-20
TO White HOUSE.
CLAUDE GRAHAME WHITE PER.
FORMS REMARKABLE FEAT
IN WASHINGTON.
RECEIVED BY ADM. DEWEY
After Soaring Over Big Buildings,
Lands Safely in Street
tombstone Does Stunts
AT ST. Louis.

Washington, D. Gin a narrow
street, upon selected spot after an
aerial flight of more than six miles |
across the city, Claude Grahame-White
the English aviator, dropped his aero
plane at the side door of the White
House. The flight occupied only ten
minutes.
On the way thither, at height of
nearly 500 feet, he eircled the dome of
the capitol and passed the lofty Wash
ington monument level with the apex.
He landed between the great build
ing of the state, war and navy depart
ments and the low structure of the
executive offices in a space where the
slightest deviation from his course
would have impaled him upon the
spikes of the iron fence around the
White House grounds at his right or
smashed him against the granite wall
at his left.
The airship struck the asphalt-paved
street squarely in the middle and roll
ed 200 feet farther up the stone and
iron hedged lane in as straight line
i as an automobile could have moved.
President Taft was not Eat home"
to receive his unexpected caller from
the air, but Admiral George Dewey
was there to grasp the hand of the
daring aviator and to offer congratu-
lations.
Other high officials of the army and
navy, including Acting Secretary of
War Oliver and Maj. Gen. Wood,
crowded about the aviator and added
their word of commentator.
Back to Starting Point.
An hour later, MIR. White again as
cended from the spot where he had
landed and returned to his starting
place-the Benning race track-with-
out mishap. Later in the day while
1 giving exhibition flights, he had two
accidents which resulted in slight dam
age to his two aeroplanes. The avia-
tor, however, escaped unhurt.
Brig. Gen. Allen, chief signal officer
of the army who has charge of all the
aeronautical work OF that service, was
enthusiastic in his praise of the avia-
tor and his accomplishment. There
after Mr.. White was invited to lunch
con with officers of the army and navy
at a nearby club.
Later in the day, While giving an eX-
hibition flight at Benning, Mr. White
met with an accident i'll which his Far
man biplane, the one in which he had
made the flight to the war department.
earlier, was damaged. He had gone
up distance of 200 feet when a pipe
between his motor and the gasoline
tank became detached. The motor
stopped and MI. wnlte was compelled
to employ gliding tactics in a maneu-
yer to reach the ground in safety.
The aviator succeeded in executing
the glide perfectly but as he neared
the ground a breeze caught the biplano
and tilted it so that the left bottom
plane struck the ground. There was
crash and the framework was brok.
en-. Mr.. White succeeded in keeping
his seat and was not injured. New
parts were brought to the field and the
aviator hoped to have the machine in
shape for the prize flight in which he
will attempt to capture the American
distance record.
Johnstone Glides From 5000 Feet
st. Louis, Oct. 15.-Ralph tombstone
after ascending 5000 feet at Kinbloch
field, abandoned his attempt to nXceed
the present altitude record held by
Walter Brookins.
At the 5000 foot mark he smut of
his engine and glided to earth in 6
series of dizzy spirals. His feat evok
ed expressions of admiration from the
foreign aeronauts who are here for the
international balloon race next Mon
day.
Jacques Faure of France, who a:
pilot of the Condor is to start the race
control of his machine when he start
ed on his rapid descent.
Leblanc, who had just come in from
his record breaking speed flight, ant
who stood watching tombstone, joined
with his countryman in expressions @
wonder over the Wright aviator's dar
ing.
Alfred LIE Blanc, who is to pilot thu
French balloon, Isle de France, in thu
International race, established what il
said to be a worlds record for aero
plane speed over measured course
With his Bleriot monoplane, LIE Blan
made mile in SO seconds, incidentally
setting an American speed record.
Official Census Figures.
Washington, D. q Population
-%o