The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-04

hoarse as the giant, grey, bird-like
machine fiuttered and sped alOft. and
a. tombstone increased his circles
around the one-m;le track the applause
and shouts become more deafenfn6.
1t seemed that Bedlam had been let
loost. tombstone smiled and waved
his hand at the crowd az no passed
the grandstand.
After making half a dozen or more
circles at an altitude OF about 500
feet tombstone few down and almost
touch the ground with the runners
of his machine. onlyto elevate his
planes and reascend to a dizzy height.
The enthusiasm Of the crowd reach
ed its height. az did the airship. when
tombstone was 1000 feet in the air.
After achieving this height, he began
to describe the figure eight. execute
sharp turns and make his machine
yield to his every within and caprice.
Meanwhile the crowd cheered. 1t
cheered the seventeen minutes he was
in the air and then some.
Stopped Hls Engine.
The most wonderful part Of John
stones night and circumstance that
brought a sickening feeling TO all who
saw and knew what he was doing was
the stopping of hts engine while in full
flight at an altitude Of fully 1000 feet.
The aviator shut off his power and
slided gracefully through space for
several moments. making sharp turn
and swoopinE toward the earth. He
suddenly started the engine again and
continued his flight. When the ex-
haust from the engine was heard again
the immense crowd breathed sigh
OF relief and settled back In their seats
to see the finish. 49,
Coming near the earth. tombstone
threw a fright into more than one per-
son who seemed to be in the path Of
the machine. First darling toward the
starting point where two mounted po-
lies and several newspaper men were
gathered, the aviator darted for the
crown on a sharp incline, and when
near them. tilted the planes and soar
ed again into the air. Men and horses
scattered like flock OF quail from the
attack OF a hawk. Again In going up
the field Johnstone spied two negro
workmen crossing the enclosure. He
gave chase and the two darkies drop
ped coats and hats and made for shell
ter.
Makes Landing.
He gradually came nearer to earth
and gave q series of wonderful aerial
navigation tactics that were never
dreamed OF before except in the real
l4&ASIeu lTIp0 u DlEuS. re HelQ the
machine under complete control at all
times and seemed to be abba to guide
1t through space with a master hand.
Swoopfng gracefully down to the
north end Of the field, tombstone swung
to the west and came down the track.
passing the corner Of the grand stand
and gliding gracefully to earth be-
tweent the trapese and the scenery In
front Of the grand stand. II did not
look ~ II there were room there for
the machine to enter. but he accom-
pitshed the feat. picking his way
through a maze OF wires and obstruc-
tions and coming to a stop near the
grand stand in plain view OF the adj
miring thousands.
Immediately upon stepping from his
machine tombstone was overwhelmed
with congratulations on all sides. Pub
lie officers State Fair directors and
others swamped him with words OF
prise and wrung his hand until the
young aviator seemed almost overcome
with confusion.
Following the flight the ma chine was
wheeled back to IT. hanger, where ad-
miring crowds were admitted to EXAM
fne ITS mechanism and try to fagure
out how II 10 all done.
tombstone will continue his flights
every day. Upon aiighting he stated
that the conditions Monday while not
perfect. were very satisfactory, and
and that IL he had the same conditions
every day this week he would be we'll
pleased.