The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-10-14
ROOSEVELT HAS
new EXPERIENCE
Former President Takes Ride
in an AiIship.

| St Louis. Oct. 12.-Theodore Roose.
welt made an aeroplane flight and said
it was the finest experience he ever
had had. He Travelled twice around
the aviation field at Kinlock park in
three minutes and twenty seconds He
waved his hand at the crowd of thou
! sands on the field below, most of
| whom were too dumbfounded to move
| When the machine alighted easily a
few feet from the starting place a
mighty shout OF applause and relief
went up
Arch Hoxsey. Wright aviator with
whom Mr.. Roosevelt made his flight,
! said his passenger made a good fellow
+ voyager- for such trip, except that
| his enjoyment led to an exuberance
OF enthusiasm that threatened to in.
| terfere with the engine which was
roaring at his side. The colonel
waved his hands at the crowd below
| so vigorously that Hoxsey called out
to him:
Keep your hands on the rail.
colonel"
| Colonel Roosevelt, who had forgot
| ten to hold himself in. waved his
hands once more and then obeyed or.
ders
The coloners flight was complete
surprise to everybody Although he
had been invited to go, no one had the
| least idea that he would do so. and he
himself did not decide to go until the
moment before he stepped into the ma.
chine
Wont to Watch Flights.
The trip to the aviation field was
made to watch the flights that were
on the programme for the colonel's
! day in St Louis. He went to Kinloch
park in an automobile, at the head of
long procession Of motor cars.
| Hoxsey's machine, a great biplane.
was standing directly in front of the
grandStand. Colonel Roosevelt
stepped from his automobile with Gov
ernor Hadley at his side. and walked
| ONCl W II. IlC lHSpcCISu luC UlOdQ
brown planes and the huge shiny en-.
CINE and shook hands with the aviator.
I'D like to have you for a passen.
GER said Hoxsey. The colonel looked
at him without word Then he be-
gan to take off his coat 1t was the
first intimation that any one had had
that he would make the trip.
Mr. Roosevelt removed his SLOUGH
hat and borrowed gray cap, which
/ he pulled down over his eyes. Hoxsey
then took his place beside Colonel
Roosevelt. who watched the prepare
tons with smile Of anticipation, be-
| traying not the least nervousness.
Guardsmen caught hold Of the great
aluminium propellers and when HoS-
! sey gave the word to start they
whirled furiously and the six-cylInder
motor barked and spoutcd smoke.
The photographers who had been
swapping the colonel in the machine
had barely time to step aside before
1t bounded forward over the grass as
| the guardsmen released it.
| Colonel Roosevelt gripped the rail
hard and looked straight ahead. The
machine skipped over the field few
yards, then lifted it's nose into the air,
rising easily
Waved Hand to Crowd.
The aeroplane sped quickly around
the field at height of less than 100
! feet. 1t made the first lap OF mile
and a half before the crowd was con-
| WINGED that Colonel Roosevelt was
| aboard. When the colonel swept
past the grandstand he leaned forward
a bit and waved his hands. The spec
tators were too frightened to call back
| to him and the colonel was silent,
watching the aeroplane in tense eX-
| element
The flying machine sped by and
made the turn for the second lap.
! HOxsey could be seen to bend over
and shout something into the colonel's
ear. The engine cracked and splut.
! tered, hurting the aerOplane forward
!. at a speed Of nearly mile minute.
! There was not 4 breath OF wind and
the engine did not once miss fire.
At the end OF the second lap Hox.
sey dipped his planes and the aero.
| plane descended easily. striking the
ground as lightly as feather few
rods from the grandstand. The ma.
chine rolled over the grass and
stopped.
Colonel Roosevelt. smiling his most
expansive SMILE, arose and climbed
out backwards. He became entangled
with the wires, but was soon out of
them and started Back for his automo.
! bile.
When the people were convinced
| that he had landed safely they cheered
the colonel wildly and the guards had
| all they could do to keep them from
breaking into. the field and swooping
| down upon him.
Colonel Roosevelt's first act was to
reach for HoXseys hand and shake it
vigorously.
1T was great, first class. 1t was
the finest experience I ever had" he
said. Il wish could stay up an hour,
| hut