The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-27
ON
HOUSE TOPS AS
AIRMEN FL Y BY
Moisant Brings Great Aviation
Meet to Close With spectacu-
lar Race for 1900 Men in
Stripes, Cutting Figure Eight
in Teeth of Gale-Then Gar
ros, Simon, and Barrier Fly
Over Town Together, Two
Racing as Other Is Lost.
Seven cross-city Flights Give
Richmond the Worlds Record.

ElCHInond the WORLDS Record
Striving high against southwester-
iy breeze of fifteen miles an hour, four
Bleriot monoplanes, driven by John
b. Moisant, Roland G. Garros. Rens
simon and Rene Barrier, flew acrosr
Richmond yesterday afternoon and ac
complished feat that has never be
fore been attempted in all the wonder
ful history of aviation
Moisant, the first aviator to take tho
ar ~ IleW alone. AT the special request
OF Ihe Times-D.spatch he made a
flight for the benefit of the ZOO CON
victs In the Virginia State Peniten-
tiar9' circling the entire city and cut
tins the figure eight before he rs-
turned to the State Fair Grounds
Three Over City Together.
rarros, simon and Barrier went up
In turn almost Immediately after
Moisant had alighted. and received
the plaudits OF 1000 people gathered
TO see the famous aviator in action.
Their flight over the city was not On
the program. They had not informed
Alfred j. Moisant, active head Of the
international Aviators, Inc, of what
they intended to do
Simon arose first, at 3:25 o'clock
and at 3:I4 O'Clock he was followed
oy Garros and Barrier. They had In
tended flying down tho field together.
gut Nsimon became lost in air lanes
20 the north. and disappeared from
view. Garros and Barrier ciyele,,
about the grounds for ten minutes.
/; and, failing to find their compatriot.
and companion. stretched their winsa
| IN the direction of the minarets that
appeared In the distance above the
city Halfway over the city they
found Simon. and almost directly over
First and Broad swung around be-
hind him and raced home together
1T was spectacle, as they appeared
In view, dying one behind the other,
= magnificent beyond description.
Beats European Record.
Their motors cleaned In the rays OF
the sun, and as they came in from thS
east 10000 people. for thcro were un-
counted thousands on the outside OF
the grounds, sent up mighty shout.
/ They had done what before had never
been tried, not even in Europe, the
home of the Blerlot, and the "Heav-
enly Triplets.' as they settled down.
smiled at each other and We're happy.
Within half an hour and unheralded.
-FOUR aeroplanes had crossed the city,.
and Richmond is the first and only city
in the world to have seen this dared
and done.
1t was fitting end to the greatest
aviation meet of it's kind ever held in
this country outside of New York.
After it had been put into working
order, Garros also went up in his D en-
oiselle, remaining In the air Il minuta
and half. The motor worked badly.
and he had to come down. AS 1t WIS
however, he made a complete circuit
OF the grounds, and could be seen from
the outside, where hungry eyes were
watching. Moisant went up second
time, proving himself an idol of the
people equal to any of the French
men. Hamilton made a two-minute
flight in his Hamiltonian type of BIZ
plane. going up at 5:21 o'clock. That
was the last eight of the meet, and the
crowds, whose hunger for the most
thrilling excitement ever exhibited be-
fore any people had been satisfied, Went
home In perfect peace They had seen
unfolded a romance of dreams.
Moisunt Opcns Show.
The exhibitions of the afternoon
were opened by John B. Moisant, this
first and only man 10 fly with a pas
| senger from Paris to London, and the
winner of the Statue of Liberty prize
| at Belmont Park. which he wreSted
| from Grahame- White, the Enigiishman
| by Il margin of torty-ilve seconds. This
Times-D Dispatch had requested him to
make a flight over the State PeniteH-
tiary, and he Immediately agreed with
out bargain. Superintendent Wood was
notified, and was asked to allow tho
| prisoners to go out into the court
| yard, whence they might see the flight
| which was to be made especially for
| their benefit He demurred at first
| but finally agreed
When all was ready and Moisa.,s
announced that he was prepared TO
fly. a telephone message was sent to
Mr.. Wood, and he allowed the conyicta
a few moments OF liberty to see the
spectacular flight. Moisant had no
compass, but the minarets of the Jef-
ferson Hotel We're shown to him as q
guiding point, and with an ooh, Ill
find It all right" he took his seat In
a Blerlot, the same one used on thsS
| famous Statue OF Liberty flight, 1t had
become generally known then that le
was to make q cross-city flight, and
| thousands OF people on Oregon Hill
| and in the vicinity of the pcnitentiar
ga thered on their housetopa to watch
and wait for the coming OF the man
| bird
Blerlot's Graceful Climb. @
AT O'clock the flight was an-
nounced to the grandstand and to the
thousands lined about the fences
Molsant took his seat. mechanic EaYe
| the first turn to the propeller, and at
| 3,o5 he was in the air.
| Gradually and gracefully tho Bler.ot
climbed into the upper air lanes.
swinging back at the northwestern
end OF tho field like q lazy gull SUM
shine glintcd on his whirring propeir
lcra apd on his spreading wings hboys