The San Francisco call., 1910-07-31
ny ARTHUR MORGAN LANGwORTHY

- xPERT aerlal OPINION was ulNiueu
as to whose model aeroplane was
the queen of the Prairieville air.
Some held that Frank Williams Wright
model Comet should be awarded the
palm while others maintained that Jim
Spencer's Bieriot model silver Flash
swiftest fiier.
When Frank Williams learned of
this state of the public's mind he was
greatly nettled. He knew that the
Comet, proper condition, was equal to
the silver Flash amy old time" and
to settle the dispute forever he boldly
challenged Jim Spencer, builder and
match race.
The formal arrangements were con-
Quoted with poa.p and solemnity, as be-
fitted such an important occasion. The
negotiations took place in Franks
aerial workshop down in the balloon
park and aerial trial grounds in the
COW pasture. The Prairieville areo
club attended in a body and watched
the two principals gravely evolve the
set of articles governing the contest
The race was to be run off in ten
flights, the aeroplane making the great
est total distance being the winner.
When it came to pitching on the proper
place to fly Frank had one of his in
spirations.
Such an important sporting event
as this should be worth something to
look at Now, if we could only raise
little money for the benefit of the
club for it." he suggested
But how are you going to make any
thing pay outdoors when all the fences
around the big lots are barbed wire
you can see through, and the roads are
free interrupted Jim contemptuously.
We might get the track" went on
Frank, alluding to the large trotting
course at the fair grounds. MY dad
belongs to the County Fair associa-
ton and ! guess he could get it for us
for one day before the fair opens. ten
days from now"
My father belongs, too" added Ned
Wilson. "and mine also. cried Tom
Kennedy.
That's fine. With a pull as big as
this we ought to land it, and the tracks
bully place to fly in, exclaimed
Frank enthusiastically. His idea was
quickly adopted. The meeting broke
up and the various members went
home to enlist their fathers in the plan
to secure the track
The next meeting of the Aero club
was not quite so dignified and most
Of the pomp had departed For it
developed that the boys arch enemy.
old John Turner, owned a majority of
the Fair associations stock and he
turned down" the request OF the boys
fathers absolutely
Guess we'll have to hold the race
In the balloon park here and give up
charging anything" remarked Frank
gloomily, which resolution was finally
adopted. the date OF the match being
made subject to the weather and the
thermometer. The anemometer was the
clubs latest acquisition-a little ma
chine equipped with movable vanes,
with cups attached to the ends. that
measured the velocity of the wind. You
can see just what it's like by looking
in the dictionary for its picture
And then the weather got cranky. 1t
rained for the next few days. and then
strong hot blast set across the prairie
that made a race impossible. and some
of the oldest inhabitants began to keep
fatherly eye on their cyclone cell
lars, as It rolled binding dust clouds
ha IQ Qfvac
happened. though the thermometer reg
istered some high marks. And what
with Frank going to the city to visit
his cousin Joe for week end, nearly
ten days elapsed before the great
match was flown.