Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-16
BY SHIRLEY A. OLYMPUS

N AN FRANCISCANS -a
- thousand or more of them
~ were treated to sights yes
terday at Dominguez aviation
field they never beheld before.
They saw race in the air be-
tween America and France, with
France as the winner; they saw
huge Bleriot monoplane of the
type that scared from Calais to
Dover, fall like a butterfly with
broken wing, a mass of wreck
age; and they saw a practical
demonstration of what dirigible
may do to city in war times by
dropping explosives from far
above onto the unprotected
places below. They saw real
sights of aviation. Thotis ot
the best of the Los AM 8
tournament, the exhibitions y,
Aying were enough to turn every
visitor into an enthusiast. They
came to Los Angeles skeptlcs;
they will return to the Golden
Gate converts.
Old Sol Sulky
Old Sol, fretted because his dominion
of the aerial world is being encroacheo
upon by man, made a futile attempt 10
keen out of sight, and thus keep the
crowds away from Dominguez. But no
had to give up in despair when ne
looked down and saw 10000 AVIATION
devotees gathered about the rancho'
Then he came out brightly and smlllhg.
Even though the earth stuck TO one
feet like a porous plaster, the air was
fresh and balmy. 1t tasted so good
that all the aviators took few SPINS
around the course just to keep their
lungs In good condition.
Tf announcements and preparations
count for anything, today and next
Tuesday will be filled with the plggest
events of the meeing.
C. K. Hamilton, the most daring aVl-
ator in the world, will try to wrese
from Louis Paulhan the title of high
est up." Hamilton with vehemence de-
clared late last night that he would go
a mile high and would stay in the air
until every drop of gasoline had been
used IN. Those who know Hamilton
hest believe him most, and chorus mis-
words by saying Hell do 1t, you can
bet your life"
Big Contest Tuesday
For Tuesday is reserved another hair
raising event in the shape of competi-
ton for the Michelin trophy. Paulhan
already has handed Chairman Cortlandt
Field Bishop $40, the equivalent of %
francs, he entrance fee for the con-
test. The contest will be for sustained
flight over a measured course. Willard
Curtiss and Hamilton probably will be
t., hafnrn the watches are
snapped on Paulhan At present the
trophy is held by Henry Farman, in
ventor of the Farman biplane, who COW
cred 144 miles in four hours, six min
utes and twenty-five seconds. The con-
test for the Michelin trophy should be
one of the prettiest air events ever seen
anywhere.
Dick Ferris, general manager of the
aviation meet, rose wearily yesterday
morning after having mapped four or
five hours He rubbed his eyes, looked
out of the window and said few SNORT
words under his breath 1t was ralnlng'
and the sky looked so dark and forbid
ding he feared the visitors from the
north would be forced to go home dis
appointed. Before the day was well on
its way toward night DICK ferras
smiled with satisfaction.
Rain-the drizzling kind that soaks
in so fast and refuses to cease--began
to come down early in the morning.
From the southeast great storm clouds
rolled out over Dominguez rancho A
dismaI blanket was spread over the
hopes of those who went out TO the
field early in the morning.
Raining at Noon
When the noon hour arrived the rain
was still coming down. Part of the
midway tents we're closed up and hun
dreds of those who had gone out to
find points of vantage for the after
noon's events started on the fifteen
mile trek homeward.
suddenly, shortly before 9 O'Clock,
the drizzle ceased, the clouds lifted
and the sun showed through the
opaque clouds in the west. Then a
steady stream of humanity began
pouring out to Dominguez. Those who
had huddled like birds with wet feath-
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