The Washington herald., 1910-10-14

Washington's first airship matinee
since Wilbur Wright was az Fort Afyer
TWO years ago. was seen al Benning track
yesterday. Grahame- White made six
frisky trips and Clifford Harmon one.
On Harmons trip White gave him a
chase in his Bleriot monoplane. and the
spectators cheered them as they few
around the course at fifty miles an hour
for twelve minutes
The English aviator sustained his rep
utation for fearlessness by many dips
and short cuts. during much Of
which he turned his machinery over
70 itself and waved both hands 10
the crowd al the same time. He was
cheered as heartily by the crowds out
side the grounds as inside.
Cinch on BipIane.
In his last flight OF the day in a Far
man biplane White showed his mastery
Of that machine by hurting the air
waves, while he returned the salutatons
OF the spectators by dofing his cap.
He didn't seem TO care a hang what
happened, and this was what made a hit
with the crowd They chsered him going
and coming. he knew they we're cheer
ing. for he smiled and bowed and kept
Up his foolishness until he got tired and
then came down IN the center field,
whence he scared Ike an eagle.
When Harmon went up he got a warm
welcome from both sides Of the fence,
and il wasn't but a few seconds before
he was plainly proving himself a clever
airman. he rode al over the sky. pass
ing White here and yonder with a wink
or a nod, and turning or slipping or up
shooting as BIS notipns struck hira, Most
Of the time Onc machine y nigh above
The other. ana the avfators seemed 20 be
taking it easy, while The crowds heads
were in the middle Of their backs.
Weather just Right.
Not a cloud got in the way, and there
was hardly a zephyr. which made & an
ideal day for air navigating. Among the
spectators were Washington socie.. peo-
pie from the diplomatic, a~~1- and navy
circles. and various clubs. The WASH
ington Aero Club entertained hundreds at
the Benning clubhouse. The attendance
inside the inclosure was IN the neigh
b0rhood of 1850 TO 2G0o. Hundreds Of
automobiles lined the drives and fences.
Because Of the late arrival Of the Far
man biplane. the crowd was kept watt
ing until $40 for White. His Bleriot
monoplane was trundIed out from the
aerodome while the other craft was be-
ing set Up. He was dressed IN his usual
aviation costume. After a cursory in
spection OF the machine, he climbed 70
his seat directly back OF the revolving
engine and propeller.
The First @Tet Her Co."
Several mechanicians caught hold as
the engine was being tuned up. The pro-
pelIer pulled with such force that t.s
men were dragged along the ground for
several yards before the aviator gave the
words, Let 60" The machine shot over
the green as the band struck up The
Star Spangled Banner"
For 100 feet II Travelled on the ground
at express speed. Close watchers saw
the tail plane tilt, and a fraction OF a
second later White was in the air The
aviator rose higher and higher until an
altitude OF 800 feet was reached The
staccato explosions OF the powerful en-
gine became mufied as II went higher
II resembled a great bird % the grand
stand crowds.
Circles Field six Times.
Circling back from the far end OF the
field, White brought his machine close
in front of the stand and was off again
on another trip around the course. Sly
times he skirted the field descending
with bird-like grace 20 the center Of the
inclosUre after being in the air six and
three-quarter minutes.
In the same machine, Grahame-White
again ascended after working an hour on
the bipIane The time he remained in the
air seven minutes cutting wide circles
about the field and finally lsnding per-
fectly.
Next came the spectacular features Of
the day when Grahame- White stepped
from his monoplane aud TOOK charge or
the biplane which had Just been put IN
readiness. He seemed to be more daring
in the larger craft, anS his work was OF
the circus" order. lie dipped 10 the
grand stands. descending 10 Within Ten
feet Of the grounA. only TO start his en-
e,ne again and bar high in the air. lie
waved his hapas at the awed onlookers
,6oubIe Trip Longest.
Ths~double flight. with MI Harmon III
the biplane and White in the monopIane
vas the longest trip Of the day Mr..
Harmon ascended first and cireled the
course several times before he Was joined
by his feIlow-airman. They chased each
other round the field about twelve min
utes.
White closed the exhibition with his
programme Of ''stunts" that made his
name in Boston. He dipped and scared
stopped his engine In mid-air 20 glide 30
earth. and turned sharp corners unui the
crowd gasped in amazement When his
fight was finished he stopped his engines
800 feet above the ground. The airship
Tilted forward and shot down with
rush until within twenty feet OF the
grolnd. Then. with push Of q lever
tile aviator set his craft On an even keel