Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-11
10000 PERSONS
CHEER PAULHAN
GREAT CROWD AT AVIATION
PARK ENTHUSIASTIC
HOT CONTEST WITH CURTISS
SEEMS CERTAIN
Size of Throng on Opening Day Is
Surprise Even to the Men
in Charge of Big
Meet

vinced. Such was the consensus of
opinion of 10000 persons at Aviation
field yesterday, and those who hitherto
had secuted the idea of aerial navi-'
cation were surprised at the wonderful
flights of Louis Paulhan, the French
aviator, and Glenn H. Curtiss, who has
upheld and demonstrated that Ameri-
can-made flying machines are thor
oughly efficient.
Los Angeles was, freely speaking,
"up in the air" yesterday, and the sue
cess of the first day is indicative of the
fact that the aviation meet will be a
success. The fact that such crowd
attended the elimination events was
source of qualification to the committee
in charge.
Despite the fact that the weather
was threatening, the crowd arrived on
the grounds early, and at 10 o'clock the
300 deputy sheriffs under Sheriff Ham,
mel became active. The crowd was
orderly and no arrest was recorded at
the temporary police station.
The emergency hospital at the en-
trance to the grounds, likewise, had an
easy day, only two minor cases being
reported. A mechanician of the Curtiss
camp had the index finger of his right
hand slightly crushed while working
about the biplane, and a woman in
her anxiety to see the Paulhan flight,
fell from her seat in the grands tand
and sustained a fracture of the left
wrist,
Size of Crowd Surprise
The size of the crowd on the opening
day was a surprise to the aviation
committee. The people wanted to
see the initial events, and, although the
car service was good, thousands of
persons We're disappointed.
From o'clock in the morning until
late yesterday afternoon a crowd of
persons besieged the Pacific Electric
building, and there was a general
scramble for the cars, run on g. two
minute schedule.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon the
grandstand, with a seating capacity of
$1,000, was filled. The boxes were
crowded and the CHEEKY countenances
of the aviation committee showed
stronger than words could EXPIRE SIS,
their qualification at the response to
the big meet. As Dick Ferris said,
IT'S the Los Angeles way of doing
things"
1t was a great day for the photog-
raphers, and it will be no fault of the
amateurs and professionals if the pic
lures of Curtiss and Paulhan are not
on exhibition in thousands of homes in
Southern California.
The crowd was enthusiastic and
showed knowledge of airships, indicat-
ing that they had digested the news
printed in regard to the meet. The
first ripple of applause was when Cur
tiss mode his trial flight.
When Paulhan appeared, uneXpect-
edly, at o'clock, the big crowd arose
en- masse and the first real demonstra-
tion of Aviation week was made.
The Flying Frenchman' made good
with the throng and was cheered en-
Enthusiastically. He was not content with
making the trip that entitled him to
entrance in the real contests, but circled
the course time and again. 1t was the
first real practical demonstration of
aviation seen in Los Angeles, and dis
PEELED the belief held by many that
aerial navigation is only a theory.
After his first fight of three and
three-quarter miles, made in minutes
and % seconds, the little Frenchman
descended.
Just to show that he was not over
advertised, he made another ascension,
and the spectators were aroused to a
point of frenzy as Paulhan in his Far
man biplane circled high in the air,
with Roy Knabenshue and Beachy
MANIPULATING their dirigible machines at
the same time, An eagle circled about,
and the spectators We're given a fine
opportunity of witnessing natures
achievements and the progress of man.
Hard Contest Expected
When Paulhan had demonstrated his
ability. and his biplane, hastily as
sembled, had been stored, the greater
part of the crowd left the grounds.
Their desires had been fulfilled, and
the ovation accorded the Frenchman
was hearty and spontaneous.
That hard contest will be waged
between Curtiss and Paulhan for aerial
supremacy was indicated yesterday
That Paulhan carried off the honors
yesterday was admitted by all, and
when he reappeared at 4 o'clock and
circled the field several times the crowd
arose and gave an enthusiastic demon
stration.
The work of Knabenshue and Beachy
in their dirigibles attracted favorable
comment. They went to the spectators,
instead of having the spectators follow
their work. All the maneuvers of the
dirigibles We're made in front of the
grandstand.
When Prof. Zerbe appeared on the
field with his local "multiplane' the
band started the popular song, Il don't
know where I'm going, but I'm on my
way" The multiplane refused to work.
and after several attempts to make a
fight Prof. Zerbe announced that he
would show today, explaining that his
engine became dead
If the program started on the first
of "eliminatin" days is carried out Los
Angeles persons and those who have
Travelled miles to see the sport will not
be disappointed.