Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-28
CAS- BAG HUNTED
HIGH IN THE AIR
Willard Takes Revolver Shots at
Elusive Toys Blown
About by Wind
Continued from Page One,

field for half an hour after the crowd
had gathered, and the spectators were
dubious. A mild, southerly wind bleW
in over the course and the birdmen
took hope. IT'S aviation weather." all
unanimously agreed, and every aviator
on the course gave thanks to the
weather makers that the gusty Mon
day was not to be repeated
HoXsEY SCARS OUT or SIGHT
But airmen sometimes are mistaken
about weather, even though they 90
not get far off. The first flyers TO
come down told of treacherous nttle
puffs concealed behind the bland race
of that soft, southerly breeze-lltle
puffs that drove them sldeWlse' up vi
down without warning.
Soon the clouds lifted and the golden
afternoon sun streamed across the
field One army of men who have gone
without mention in the records OF the
meet up to date-the camera squad
raised their hats and gave three cheers
at this manifestation of the square
deal principle by the weather office.
The little pufTs grew less frequent ana
the days flying was on.
Hoxsey went out of sight for the
daily altitude prize. BrooklnS loi-
lowed to 3200 feet and Ely climbed up
to the 1000 foot level.
While these birdmen were testing
ments, Parmelee began to do playful
stunts, 1900 feet above the stand A
full grown man from the judges box
walked out onto the field holding onto
the string of a red toy bolloon. With
gesture made in the direction OF the
man in the air, he let the balloon
loose.
Parmelee saw it and brought his
craft almost to stop. Then taxing
a running start, he shot at the little
red thing as though it were demon to
be destroyed. His aim was good, Tor
the balloon drifted in between his
planes and out again.
FROIIC WITH BALLOONS
The poor little balloon was much the
worse for the contact, for the current
of air shot it up and down rapidly like
fishing cork in Il stream. The crowd
was pleased to think that II big man
in an air monster could do such things
TO a harmless toy balloon, and the
first great laugh that has been emitted
from the stand in four days rippled its
way the length of the crowd.
Ely saw Parmelee's frolic and came
down from the clouds to join him. Par
melee resented the interference and
tried to drive the intruder off. Ely was
insistent so the two birdmen tried to
settle the question by race. Neck and
neck they raced halfway around the
course. Ely $50 feet high, Parmelee 100
feet. At length Ely gained, Parmeee
came down and the Curtss man had
the field to himself. But by this time
the toy balloons had drifted away and
the manbird was cheated of his fun.
Hoxsey came down from the clouds at
1854. after an hour AID twenty minutes
of flight. Willard. Beachey and Rad
ley ascended. Willard carried a 3S-
caiber revolver. The man let loose
another balloon. Willard shot at it
and missed.
When Parmelee saw Willard playing
tag with the balloon, he went up again.
Willard came down. Ely, having
beaten his rival i'm race, was not to
be deprived this time. so he, too. Joined
in the sport. The balloons having been
fought TO a literal standstill, the bird
men descended to take on a supply of
bombs.
ORANGE BOMBS FLY
Parmelee, Hoxsev and Ely each filled
their laps with red, juicy bombs pro-
vided by Los Angeles commission
house. Shooting back and forth over
the field at a height of 200 feet they
threw the bombs on the deck" of the
"battleship" marked out in WhiteWash
on the dirt field below.
Ely landed three bombs" in success
sion on the deck of the ship, two COM
ing dangerously close TO the vital"
parts. HoXsey delivered two rasping
charges on the deck of the ship. Par
melee landed a couple of bombs and
the ship was well rddled when the
bombardment was over
Hoxsey is an aviator who believes
that aeroplanes could inflict serious
damage on Warships. I'VE will be
equipped with guns and will not have
to droo or throw our bombs," he said
"Unquestionably. a fleet of aeroplanes
could stop the biggest fleet of battle
ships. although the losses would be
considerable"
A stiff breeze began to blow across
the field shortly after 3 o'clock and
increased in intensity up till 4, the
hour set for the running Of the first
aviation derby.
The crowd waited patiently for this
event but consultation of judges and
airmen brought forth a decision to
postpone the race until today, owing
to the strong wind. The race between
Parmelee and Ely was arranged in
stead. Parmelee did not equip his
"Baby" with the racing planes, re-
serving that for today, when the great
er race will be pulled off.
TWO AVIATORS RACE
Ely and Parmelee, after jockeying
at the start by cutting circles in OPP
to the northwest of the stand, pulled
across the starting line nose and nose
Ely took the upper level and Parmeleo
the lower. For the first turn around
the course the racers held well togeth-
er The second round Ely pulled ahead
II continued gaining until the finish
The race was over the short course of
a mile and three-quarterS for five turns
Ely's BEST time for one lap was
1859 As; total time 1905 2-5. Parme-
lees total time WIS 10:37 AS. Radley
came in at the 1ish and surpassed
Elys record by covering the five laps
in 9:17 1-5. Ely used 40-horse power
engine in his Curtiss machine, Parme-
lee a 80 and Radley 40 to so.
"The racing of aeroplanes VIII be-
come the real thing in aviation meets"
said Glenn H. Curtiss. 81 am glad to
see it inaugurated, and | believe that
the aviation committee in thus begin
ming new feature for aviation meets
has hit upon a good idea-something
that will attract the people. A crowd
soon gets tired watching aeroplanes
go around and around without any OBJ
Iect in view other than to keep up in
fhe air l believe that the many people
who have seen all the familiar stunts
over and over again by the various
aviators will come out to see real
2 contest between evenly matched ma
chimes. ~
CURTISS FAVORS RACES
"Of course it will be necessary to for
mulate certain rules to govern the con-
fest, but that can be very easily worked
ont IF two or more machines, up to
the number of say five, provided the
course is wide enough, could be sent