The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-04
CROWDS ROARED
AS AEROPL ANE
DANCED ABOVE
Ralph Johnstone Goes
1000 Feet in AirLike
Graceful Bird.
CUT OFF POWER
TO GLIDE DOWN
Wonderful Exhibition Dazzlcd
Thousands at Fair, Wild Cheers
Greeting Each Dangerous
Whirl-I5-Minute Flight
by Daring Aviator, Who
Played With Winds.

Sweeping along the invisible lanes
OF the air whirling coasting and glid-
ms with power cut off, Ralph John
stone in a Wright bipIane demon
strated yesterday thu practicability OF
aviation. and, above the roar of his
whirring p.opellcrs, heard the ap-
plauding shouts OF thousands who
went wild at his apparent reckless
manoeuvring nearly a thousand feet
above the level of the earth
tombstone succeeded In doing what
he had said he would do, and he ac-
complished vast deal more. 1t was
the first and only wonderful exhibition
of aerial navigation ever here, and
people who witnessed the feat came
away puzzled whether or not to be-
niained in the air fifteen minutes. Ave
minutes longer than the contract called
for and when he swooped down like
gull settling to the waves. every man
and woman who could break through
the police Gordon rushed into the field
Just to shake the unobstrusive avia.
tors hand.
Mayor Eager to Fly.
'Wonderful. wonderfu1. they ex-
claimed, breathless in their eagernesa
to say something behttinS the OCCASION
but falling because their lexicon car
ried no words which could express
their feelings. Mayor Richardson
pressed forward in such excitement
that he could hardly speak.
Man, man. he said, II didn't know
1t could be done You're human bird
I never saw such an exhibition. You're
going to take me up. aren't you?"
tombstone standing by his aeroplane
with hundreds Of people pressing close
around him received the congratula-
tions as II flying were second. nature
with him, as 1t really seems to be.
Directors of the Fair Association Wed
with each other in telling the young
aviator how much they were aston
ished and how pleased. He couldn't
get away from the crowds until the
police pressed them back. and made
way to shift the automatic bird back
to its hangar.
Long before the flight started. john
stone was the cynosure OF all eyes,
though 1t was long time before the
,rowd recognized who he was. He
spent much OF the time in the hangar
:uning up his. aeroplane. lightning
he numerous piano wires which hold
The planes together and seeing that
he motor was In good running order.
Hundreds went into the hangar to ex-
anime the latest thing IN aeroplanes.
Ind to listen to the aviator's explana-
Ion Of It's numerous parts.
whilred INTO Place.
At AIS o'clock 1t was announced
hat he was preparing for the flight.
Ind way was made through the CON
sested crowd along the rail to make
bath for the machine. With Manager
E. P. Jackson, the aviator w mt across to
he grandstand. where. as he stood In
he judges stand, he was introduced
% the assembly He was announced
Is the holder OF the records In dur
lnce accuracy and landing records
which he won at the famous Boston
Lviation meet. where he competed with
iuch mon as Curtiss. Grahame White,
Iarman, Willard and others, running
econd to Grahame-White, who led the
leld. AS his name was announced.
tombstone merely bowed. Like all avl-
ltors, he Is a man Of few words. The
Wright brothers believe in doing. not
alking. and Johnstone Is one OF their
Lptest pupils. He lets others do the
alktnr for him, and he does the fly
ng.
Before Mr.. Jackson had finished with
he introduction and announcement
he aeropane was at the northern end
II the field being put into place BY
he corps of mechanics who accom-.
panied 1t to Richmond. Then John
tone strolled across the field to
where the monorail lay. He superin-
ended the placing of the big machine
ions. He had to stop long enough
o pose for The Times Dispatch Pho
ographer, and then, after a last ex-
animation of the wires and the engine.
le put on his helmet. and, bucklinR
he belt around him, took his seat.
bout 100 people stood around watch
ng with avid interest the operations.
,ficers ordered the crowd bacN and
wo mechanics whirled the two pro-
ellers for the start while two others
sung on in front to prevent falaa
tart ass <cSS
Made Beautiful Start.
With everything finally adjusted,
ohnstone dropped his hand. the pro.
ellers whirled. and down the 13o-
oot monoral the white. birdiike ma
hine glided. as ship glides, down
he ways to the sea.
At the end OF theSratl the forward
fling planes tilted upward, and with ~
leap the aeroplane breasted the air.
he crowds in the grandstand, along
he ,aidway and those strung around 8
ha race track the length OF the held
cid their breath for a moment. watch
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