The Washington herald., 1910-08-19

ASoOFy Fdrh, N. J., Aug. lh-SIy
Skipper Ralph Johnstone's biplane
smashed through the automobile parking
ground fence at the north end of the
Interlaken aviation field this afternoon
while trying to make a landing after a
short spin through what Hudson Maxim
at the same time was referring TO as
'the celestial concave" The Wright ma
chine suffered crumpling Of its front
controls. some broken skids. braces and
plane ribs. and partially disrupted some
OF the muslin covering OF the planes and
almost all Of the aviator's good temper.
This was the only mishap Of the day.
although for time It looked to the big
crowd Of spectators as II there was dan
ger headed toward Jimmy Flemmlng, the
parachute jumper who ascended last Fri
day with Benny Prince when Prince was
killed by falling a mile OF more. Flem-
ming went up hanging from one Of
Johnny Mack's hot-air balloons to make
the first parachute jump since Prince was
killed.
on TO the northwest and more than
loo feet in the air Arch Hoxsey was
bucking the wind in a Wright machine
and heading back home. As the balloon
pulled Flemming to the sky the wind
blew It up and out toward Hoxsey.
Feared n Collision.
Johnny Mack fred his pistol as a signal
for Flemming to jump. Flemming was
also about 1000 feet up when the pistol
shot cracked and directly over the north
west corner OF the field. From the grand
stand Flemming could be seen tugging
at the rope which runs UP to the short
knife Just beneath the balloon and which
sewers the rope that holds the balloon
and parachute together. Over his shoul-
der he was watching the oncoming aero
plane.
Either the knife would not cut the para
chute rope or Flemming had decided to
hug close to his balloon until Hoxsey and
himself got by all danger Of shaking
hands on a grade crossing 1000 feet up.
At any rate. Hoxsey and Flemmlns pass
ed each other at the Loco feet level, Hox-
sey TO sail on toward the sky roof OF the
field and Jimmy to drift into the haze of
the northwest. They were a comfortable
distance apart while passing.
Flemming made no attempt after that
to cut away from the balloon. The black
bag rose and rose until the air within the
balloon began 20 cool off, The balloon
and Jimmy landed gently at Oakhurst.
four miles from the aviation field. and
Jimmy stepped out upon somebody or
others lawn rightside up.
Breeze Not Tempered.
Hoxsey began the flights OF the day
by getting off from wheels at 4:19 o'clock
in breeze that might have been better
behaved. At times the breeze and the
plane firted In a way that threatened
TO result In scandal before they were
parted. but Hoxsey looped the lower
half OF loops and cut his name in the
sky for sixteen minutes and landed
without the aid Of a net His first
flight carried him up about go feet at
times.
JohnstOne slid into the air shortly after
HOxsey's landing and made the one
turn and met with the atmospheric con-
trariness that resulted in his plane and
the parking fence getting tied up IN
a true lovers knot
Brookins went up in a rollicking zephyr
that went a bit foolish when all the
auto horns and smacking palms got to-
gether to welcome him back 20 the sky
with a n-up-the-air-is-fine" sort
OF welcome. He scared in big cir
cles for four minutes and landed with
an egg shell delicacy that loosened I'D
the applause again
Got the High Sign.
Frank Coffyn megaphoned across the
field to Hoxsey as the latter again pre-
pared 10 ascend to ask which number
should be displayed on the signal board
that informs the crowd the nature of the
flight about to be attempted.
Going up. old top" yelled Hoxsey from
his driving seat as no bent forward 70
run tightly pressed fingers and thumb
along his trouser creases. "Give 'em
the high sign, my good man"
Hoxsey hit the sky for the second time
at SIS o'clock. He turned and headed
into the wind again at height OF 1e4o
feet. It looked then as II he had stopned
up there. perhaps 10 get out and crawl
under the aeroplane TO tinker with the
furnace. but he really was moving
against the headwind. only you could
not notice II at this distance. Jimmy
Flemming and his balloon and para
chute cut loose as Hoxsey headed for
home, and they approached and passed
each other as has been related.