The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-15
$4,000 WITNESS
MAE-B|ROs FLY
La Chappelle and Hoxsey Make Sue
cessful Flights Wright Machine
at State Fair Grounds.


months. was produced before their
very eyes at the state fair grounds,
Thursday afternoon. nameiy, the
flight OF an aeroplane.
The spectacle Of the bird-men In
the air made one feel that II was only
VISION, and the multitude in the
grandstand and on the ground seem
ed struck with awe as the machine
was but little applause at the start
of the exhibition, but the crowd had
apparently recovered from It's daze
when the operator, Duvall La Chap
pelle, descended and alighted from the
car, for the entire assemblage cheer
ed wildly.
The appearance OF the aeroplane In
the air was awaited with keen antici-
patton by almost everyone In attend
ance, as scarcely anyone but those
connected with the machines had ever
seen such performance. The major
ity Of the spectators, who numbered
about $4,000, were visiting Eiks and
they were particularly anxious to see
the fights.
For more than an hour the aviators
tinkered and fused about plane Ia
the enclosure opposite the granc'
stand, each blow with hammer or a
turn with a wrench making the gather
Ing all the more impatient.
Finally. at O'Clock, an hour after
the scheduled time to start. La Chap
pelle climbed into the machine and
after being pushed few yards along
monorail, used to give the machine
start, II began TO rise like bird
He circled the race track three times
and then came back to the point from
which he started, landing with as
much ease and grace as though he
were operating an automobile on the
ground. In alighting. however. the
skids scraped the edge OF little no.
low and one OF them was slightly dam
aged. II was quickly repaired an
then Arch. Hoxsey, whose own ma.
chine was out OF commission, entered
that of Ia Chappelle and did\ some
daring work.
First he sailed around the grounds
at an almost even altitude OF abou
100 feet, then he sent the machine sky
ward, some SO feet, only to come down
again at an almost perpendicular di'
to within q few feet of the ground, az
which hight he skinned along for
some distance, after which he ascer
ed into the air again and repeated the
dipping" performance.
The people held their breaths as he
went through the different stunts, for
II was new to them and they expect
ed. every moment. TO see him fall on
of the machine and be dashed t.
death. However. Hoxsey was right
home in the air and he showed per
feet confidence in his ability TO handle
the plane safely, having frequently
dotted his cap ana waved his hand al
the crowd below
When he finally alighted he was
given an ovation. and, in response Z
requests from the grandstand, he was
brought to the grandstand and intro
duced 20 the crowd. Hoxsey bowed
graciously and smiled his acknowl
edgments.
Later Hoxsey made high fiigh
reaching an altitude OF 1900 feet. !
this distance his biplane looked NJ
bigger than a hawk in the air. Ora
ually and slowly he came back TO
wards earth, but he didn't leave the
air for 20 minutes, in which time h
covered Is miles, said to be western
record.
Prior to the aeroplane flights. "
Broker. OF Minneapolis, gave an ex-
hibition run with his motor wind wa
gon, which Is said to have gone
mile in LOG. The machine. built
an automobile, with four wheels and
frame, is run by a two-bladed wooden
propeller in front of the car. The
propeller is said TO develop 1000 revo'
lutions and the motor 1000. In race
with Hoxsey, in the aeroplane, e.
wagon was left far behind.
Hoxsey expects to have his own
plane in commission for the flights
Friday afternoon, and the mana"
ment hopes to be able TO have races
between him and La Chappelle. Thu
machines are owned by the Wrights
La Chappelle is a former Detroiter
having learned his trade as machinist
at the old Fulton Engine works. Nc
long ago the Wrights took him ABROAD
To look after the repairing OF the
machines and he then learned to be
an aviator himself.
There was absolutely no provision
made for the handling of the crowds
and after people once went up the
stairs of the grandstand 1t was grab
any old seat in sight whether you
held a coupon for 1t or not. True, a
man did stand at the head of the stairs
bawling out First ten rows are re-
served-all seats back OF that good
for general admission" but nobody
paid any attention to him and when
holders of reserved seat checks came
along there were no ushers there "a
locate the seats and those already
seated refused to give up what they had
appropriated. Most OF the visitors
knew nothing about sections or seat
numbers and so, in spite, of having
paid an extra half dollar for a reserv'
ed seat, In self-defense. they were
Obliged 10 grab with the rest. Then
the aisles filled up and the promenade
against the railing filed with people
who for the price Of general admis'
sion ticket bad the best view OF the
airships and completely cut of the
vision OF those who had paid the ex.
ira price for q reserved seat. Kicking
was universal but as there were ne
officials around to see that proper
seating was given those who paid for
It, the situation had to be accepted.