The Glenwood post., 1911-09-02
GltNWC~,,,w C,,, ..nv.v
OF THIS week
Aviator Failed to Fly and
Crowds Are Much Disap.
pointed. Says Air Is
Too Light
HORSE RACES GOOD

Glenwood s annual race meet, under
the direction of the Glenwood Racing
association is on in full blast as the
Post goes to press, the attendance and
interest being good and the races above
the average usually seen in towns OF
this size.
The great drawing card for the event
the one that was played up strong IN
the advertisements and the one which
really brought the people here from
the outside points, was the aviation
stunt which it was intended to make
part of the program for Wednesday
and Thursday, proved sore disappoint-
ment, not only to the management but
also to the spectators or would-be spec
tators who waited anxiously but in
VAN to see demonstration of the new
mode of navigation.
A contract had been entered into by
the management with Curtiss Brothers
for three flights each of these two
days of their hydro-aeroplane and
Hugh Robinson, one of their chief avia-
tors and man with many successful
records to his credit was sent here to do
the flying act.
A great deal of work had to be done
on the machine to put it in shape for
flight and the people were kept waiting
Wednesday until 4:30 when the ma
chine was pushed out to the north end
of another 80 minutes the spectators
were rewarded by seeing Robinson
mount the seat and start the engine.
The machine sped across the closely
cropped lawn and when near the south
end of the grounds arose in the air
about so feet, gradually sinking again
toward the ground. Robinson observed
the telephone wires extending across
the south end of the grounds and, see
ing that he could not clear these he
dropped the machine to the ground and
board fence which went down, the posts
breaking off at the ground.
Fortunately Robinson was not injur-
ed and he stopped the engine and as
sisted in pushing the machine back and
ordered it taken to the tent for repairs.
This ended all hope of flight on We'd
nesday and the people went away dis
appointed but determined to see what
Robinson could do the next day.
On Thursday another good crowd
was on hand, the grand stand, as On
the preceding day, being crowded to
its utmost capacity. On the first day
the races proper seemed to be regarded
by most of the people as a secondary
consideration but on Thursday the
races, which were very good in them
selves held the attention of the people
and the flying machine had by this
time come to be regarded more or less
in the nature of a joke.
After the failure of the first day
Robinson attributed his failure to get
off of the ground to the very light con-
or some weighing of the atmosphere
would insure a race on the morrow
When Thursday came, although he
wheeled his machine out on the lawn
and was evidently all ready to make
the start, and although. moisture laden
clouds were floating through the air,
after keeping the crowd in suspense
for nearly an hour after they supposed
everything was in readiness, Robinson
announced that he had not been able
to get his machine repaired and he
called off further efforts, violated his
contract, ordered the machine taken
down and packed for shipment and
that evening it was sent to Denver
where Robinson is billed for flight
tomorrow at Luna park.
Aside from the disappointment at
Robinson's failure to fly the program
was very good indeed. Those interest
ed in horse races seemed well satisfied
with the amusement furnished in that
line although it must be admitted that
the disappointment over the one fea-
ture rather unsettled everything and
made necessary a readjustment of
Dplans. :. ~. .;,,.. =, ~. .v,,.
Ion feature soon spread and many who
: had hoped for 4 flight on Friday to