The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-16
GOES UP $500 FEET.
tombstone Flies High at
ASbury Park Meet.
MAKES A THRILLING DESCENT
Aviator Looked Like a Seagull, as
He Sailed Away in Circles Above
Their Heads $ Viewed by
Largest Crowd of Week.
MAKES A THRILLING DESCENT

Asbury Park. n. j.. Aug. l5.-Soar-
ing to a height. estimated by him at
more than $500 feet, Ralph tombstone
made the altitude record Of Asbury
Park aviation meet
II was impossible TO know the ex'
act height as there are no instru-
ments on the field. Duval lie Chapple,
one OF the aviators. estimated 1t In
excess Of 5000. but Wilbur Wright con
servativcly measured IL with a yard
stick at 1920. Wright has method
Of his own. but his associates say he
Is overcOnseryatiyc. and stand by
Johnstonc's estimate.
II was the browning feature OF a
triple event which closed the pro
gram for the week. and was witnessed
by a crowd even larger than that OF
the day before. The triple event was
started by Fred Owens, who rose IN
his dirigible balloon. He went to a
greater altitude than he has yet at
tempted in the elongated balloon. aud
reached about 500 feet.
There was roar from Johnstone's
motor as his plane rested on the rail-
and away he went lie. too. got right
down TO business OF getting upward
He circled several times. ever rising
but remaining within the limits OF the
field. He reached owens height and
swept By him like an express train
passing slow freight. and the two
men exchanged greetings When
tombstone turned again he was far
above the airshIp. and he began to
widen his circles, going far beyond
the field boundaries.
Looked Like a Seagull.
Owens came down in short time,
leaving the air exclusively to the ava
tor. Higher and higher tombstone
rose. until his snorting engine could
no longer be heard and he looked nc
larger than a seagull. His ever widen
ing circles took him some distance
away. but always within sight OF the
snectators. He was eagerly watched
from half a dozen summer resorts.
Hoxsey suddenly shot from the rail-
and divided attention by series oil
fancy stunts about the field. He few
low and did the roller coaster act fire
quently.
II was thought that this was sig
nal for tombstone to come down. as
was the case in the double flight. but
Johnstone continued to rise He came
down in nine minutes. tombstone be
gan TO return. In another minute his
engine could be heard. His descent
was far more rapid than the ascent
and when he reached about 400 feet
a short distance beyond the field lin
ifs. he shut of the engines. tipped
sharply forward and landed as lightly
as feather. not fifty feet In front
Of his hanger.
Crowds cheered. automobiles added
TO the din with their whistles and the
crowds. breaking through the gates
focked upon the field. surrounding
tombstone and cheering him again
and again.
II was another ideal day though
tombstone. after a speed flight OF ten
miles around the field, which he did
in twelve minutes. declared that there
was an aerial disturbance about 600
feet up. which made 1t intensely hot
The events Of the day began with
Coffyn In a trial flight, which lasted
but two minutes.
He Is doing no particular flying. as
he generally uses the machine which
was wrecked when Brookins fell on
Wednesday. Another Ike II will ar
rive from Dayton, Ohio. tomorrow
when Coffyn expects to give some
exhibitions.