The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-18
Big Four-Day Aviation
Meet Begins at Fair
Grounds Wednesday.
NEW YORK PEOPLE
SIGN CON TR ACTS
Program May Include Flight to
Petersburg-Five Aviators En-
gagged, All of Whom Will Be
in Air at Once-President
Taft Invited to Open
Big Show. !.


John B. Moisant the American, who
won the prize of $4,000 offered by
Thomas f. Ryan for a flight around
the Statue of Liberty during the Bel
mont aviation meet; Charles Il. Hamil-
ton, who flew from New York to Phila.
delphia and return in June, and three
foreign aviators have been engaged
for a big meet which will be held at
the State Fair Grounds next week. be-
ginning on Wednesday. during The
visit of President Taft.
Contracts for the grounds were
closed last night with the fair direc-
tors by j. P. Anderson. representing
the New York syndicate, wh:cfi is pro-
noting the meet AS many SIS five
aeroplanes of different types will be
in the air at one time, ard either on
Thanksgiving Day or Saturday. Motsan'
and Hamilton will make a flight over
given out last night by Mr.. Anderson
after a distance telephone talk,
with Moisant's brother in New York.
sIny Fly for President.
The committee in charge OF arrange
ments for the entertainment of Pres
ident Taft has taken up the question
of having the President motor to tha
Fair Grounds on Wednesday just after
bthc luncheon att the jefferson, where he,
will be greeted by all the aviators who
Will fly by his car and salute him. a.
miniature battleship will be built near
the centre Of the race-track intield.
over which the machines will fly while
"bombs" are dropped from a distance
of 500 to 1000 feet in the air.
In additionyto Moisant and Hamilton.
M. Simon, the millionaire Frenchman.
known as the speed demon Of the air.
Garros and Barrier, also of France.
will be here in their French machines.
Others may participate. but thus far
the five named are certain to perform.
Mr.. Anderson said last night that
the Fair Grounds offer every advan-
tage and every facility for spectacular
work. Various prizes will be offered
around the track in full view of the
crowds will be arranged, along with
tve-mile race with motor car. This
event was on the program at the State
Fair In October. but had to be called
off when rain practically closed the
show two days ahead of time.
Big Thanksgiving Program.
Ralph tombstone. who was killed
yesterday In Denver, gave this town
its first aeroplane show. and what he
did merely whetted the popular ap-
petite. Because of the advertising
which aeroplanes got on that occasion,
and the large attendance. the Moisant
brothers and Hamilton we're persuaded
that they could come to Richmond and
give an exhibition which would draw
thousands of people.
The idea Of the promoters Is to give
a show on Wednesday which will show
exactly what people may expect on
Day, on Friday and on
which is a half-holidny. A
flight over the city, to start and end
in front of the grandstand. is call
culated to stir the sluggish blood and
enthuse thousands OF people who can
not get to the meet.
Two Famous Avintors.
Even without the others. Moisant
and Hamilton are among the foremost
American aviators, much OF Moisant's
flying having been done In Europe,
which led to the impression that he
was foreigner. He was the first
to succeed in crossing the English
Channel with a passenger in a heavier
than air machine. this feat bringing
him International glory He came
over to the Belmont meet to go after
the prl2es and flew from Belmont
over Brooklyn. around the Statue Of
Liberty and back forty-three seconds
faster than Grahame-White, and In 4
machine of half the horsepower.
Grahame-White has protested thearace
on the ground that the Belmont man-
agement refused to give him another
trial after the meet had been officially
direct from Havana. where he gave
skies.
Hamilton Wondeg.
Hamilton first got fame for himself
by his spectacularsperform around
New York, where he introduced the
slide--cutting OFF his motor d thousand
feet in the air and suddenly starting
Ii again within few feet of the
earth. He established record byS-
his flight from New York TO Pnilr
adelphia and return. landing at Gov
ernor's Island, his starting point. Just
after dark. ffe did not add to his fame =
at Belmont because of an accident
which put his Hamiltonian car out OF
commission during the greater part ot Il
the meet. The Hamiltonian Is a l0o-
horsepower flyer. built for speed and
staying qualities. u SS B
The Little Demoiselie
But Simon, Garros and sBarrier vii!
not he lacking In hairsraising work
While they are not SO Wen known iii
this country as AIoisant and Hamiltoii,
heir performances abroad have besn
iuly chronicled. They Will operate tito