Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-23
AVIATOR DEFEATS
BIRDS IN A RACE
Just Going for Little Spin, Says
Latham at Start of Re-
markabIe Flight
NO ACCIDENTS TO MAR FEAT
Novel Hunt Preceded by a Fast
Trip to Grounds of Bolsa
Chica Gun Club
Continued from Page Ono,

Continued from PaRo Ono)
almost drowned the chug of the aero
planes propeller as they scared away.
Latham again tried for a bag. but
failed He was successful, however, in
landing his second bird just as he left
the field on his return trip to the avia-
tion park.
After completing a detour of the
marshes Latham brought his machine
to the ground on knoll a quarter of
Il mile from the Bolsa Chica club
house and was met, as he stepped from
the aeroplane, by member of the
club.
I've had a fine hunt, thank you" he
said to John B. Miller of the aviation
committee. Il think next time III be
able to do much better"
A search was instituted for the duck
shot by the aviator and 1t was found
floating near the oceans edge. The
duck proved to be a bluebill of the
scaup or canVasback family, and
weighed two and a half pounds.
While the search for the duck was
going on Latham was the guest OF the
club at breakfast.
Members of the aviation committee
and of the gun club congratulated
Latham on his flight. For half an hour
they had looked on at the strangest
sight ever offered them-that OF man
chasing birds.
GOES TWO MILES OVER OCEAN
When Latham ventured two miles
from shore the applause of some OF the
party gave way to apprehension lest
some accident occur to the aviator and
his craft.
IT'S wonderful" said w. NJ Garland,
chairman of the aviation committee
who felt a little uneasy when Latham
scared high after a flock of fleeing
birds. His anxiety was due in part
to the fear that some mishap would
prevent AAatham's participation in the
meet which begins tomorrow
When Latham fired the shot that
brought down his bird the enthusiasm
of the party of watchers was I'M
bounded.
This is not shooting at a fixed tar
get, as other aviators have DONE" said
member of the committee. Here
both aviator and bird are travelling at
more than a flfty-mile an hour clip"
Members of the aviation committee
who witnessed the fight were: Isaac
Milbank, w. NJ. Garland, Frank Gar
butt and John B. Miller. The following
members of the gun club were present:
M. ]. Connell, +. II. Stevens, Count
Won Schmidt, W. M. Bailey, II. c. Mer-
rift, J. S. Cravens, F. e. wilcox, Law
renee w. Burck, DIR. Granville Mac
Gowan p. H. Auten, H. l.. Story, Dr.
John L. haynes. Guests of the club
were: e. B. Tufts, w G.. Levin, He'll
lard MACEDONIAN, newspapermen and
others.
Shortly after o'clock Latham re-
entered his machine for the return trip
to the aviation field.
FIRST DUCK WILL BE STUFFED
The aviator had not intended to do
any more hunting but on reaching the
ocean he came within range of large
IIa.1 4 I,Tg
for the day While the club members
cheered. Then, waving his hand at
the crowd below, the aviator was off
for the aviation camp. ThiS time ne
cut across Alamltos bay and crossed
the preserve of the Lomita Gun club
high in the air.
The first duck brought down by the
aviator was brought to Los Angeles
bv Count Won Schmidt and will be
stuffed and presented to Latham as a
trophy for making the first aviation
hunt on record.
The news Of Aatham's performance
was received with wonder by other
aviators and James Radley, the Eng
lsh birdman, telephoned an offer to
the Bolsa Chica Gun club to duplicate
the performance, The offer has not
been accepted.
Lathams great Antoinette was in
perfect trim for the flight and the avia-
tor said he did not feel the slightest
uneasiness during the entire flight of
twenty-four miles to and from the
club nor during the half hour that he
was sailing far out over the ocean.
MANBIRD WARM IN PRAISE
The engine worked to perfection, he
declared. The flight convinced mem
bers of the aviation committee and
others who saw 1t that the Antoinette
in the hands Of an expert is fOrmid-
able rival of any other style of craft.
The spectacular performance will go
far toward making Latham a faVorite
in the meet in which more than score
of aviators with various types Of ma
chimes will participate, beginning to-
morrow.
When Latham landed at aviation field
after completing his hazardous trip, he
was warmly congratulated by Glenn
Curtiss.
"That was the best yet" said Curtiss.
"It was a thrilling and wonderful
performance"
The doughty French aviator said it
was the first time he had ever tried to
excel the speed of birds.
Ordinarily" he said, "they travel
about fifty miles an hour, but when
they are being chased they go faster
than this. My machine, at its BEST Is
a little faster than they are at their
best so, in a flight of any length, l
would have no trouble in overtaking
them, for they tire and the machine
does not"
Fear of doing damage to his propel-
Ior kept him from closing in on the
birds when he was close upon them,
Latham said.