Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-08
FLYERS THRILL
CROWDS WITH
AERIAL DEEDS
Simon and Barrier Made
Three Of the Prettiest
Flights Of Their Lives at
Wildwood Park Yesterday
CAPT. FRISBIE MET
WITH SLIGHT ACCIDENT

WITH SLIGHT ACClDENl
Makes Beautiful Start But
Rear Control Broke, Com
pelling Landing; Was not
in Least Danger.
Before two thousand eager up-turned
faces, the look of astonishment admira-
lion and incredulity vividly pictured IN
every countenance Rene Simon, Rene
Barrier and Capt Frisbie, made three
Of the most beautiful flights Of their
lives, pronounced by every attache OF
the company as the finest exhibition
they ever witnessed, at the aviation
field in Wildwood countryside yester-
day afternoon. Like the fleet birds OF
the air, these three men played with
the breezes OF the heavens as II 1t
was their own element, returned to the
solid foundation of earth only to soar
once more to the aerial domain in
their crafts which seemed to possess
almost human intelligence as they
were governed in their path Of air
by the daring aviators. Now they are
mere speck above the distant hori-
zon sailing as smoothly as the grace
fnl swan on the placid lake, now they
begin to grow larger and larger, as a
huge bird sailing with wings at rest,
toward the up-turned faces. With the
alacrity of an eagle, they suddenly
guide their course to earth as a rocket
to suddenly parallel their bird with the
earth, slowly and gradually skimming
along closer and closer to the
ground until the wheels Of the monster
touch the solid earth and carry the
airmen along at terrific speed until
friction brings them to a standstill.
Boats to Fly This Afternoon.
This afternoon both Simon and Bar
rier will be in the air at the same
time and make the race with death.
This thrilling flight has ever been
replete with the most astounding
manipulation OF the air crafts by the
fool flyers, and this afternoon, since
the weather and winds are most
favorable, the airmen will pull off
stunts that will surpass even those of
Yesterday. Captain Frisbie will have
his biplane in readiness with the
broken control repaired and will make
a. successful fight this afternoon. The
handling Of the two winged monster
is as pretty sight as the monoplanes.
The flying starts at $3.50 o'clock and
once again the fool flyer Simon, will
make1 the terrible dip of death. de-
scending almost perpendicularly to
the earth. Never has this feat been
accomplished by any other flyer and
Ottumwans who attend will stand
aghast at the great risk Simon is
taking. A slight miscalculation will
send him to the ground, his life will
he snuffed out as candle and his
machine pile of trash. Barrier will
live up to his name of the cloud
chaser and will rise to the. great
height of almost mile. Although he
failed to do so. yesterday because of
unavoidable conditions he has de-
clared his intention of doing so today.
Tomorrow Is the last day and will
afford people an opportunity to see
what they may never view again. 1t
is not farce as many are led to be-
lieve but one Of the prettiest exhibit
tions known. To see men toy with
death, risk their lives for the pleasure
OF flying Is to marveled at Those
who have seen the flights will come
back again today or tomorrow, de-
Isermined to see the airmen soar
xhrough the air every moment they
scan. There Is peculiar fascination
FOR this work to the people as we'll
las the airmen.
Two Thousand Attend.
Scattered over the great area in large
crowds SO that 1t was hard to estimate
the number in attendance, fully two
thousand people witnessed the flights
of yesterday. Fully as many more
were outside the grounds to see the
birdmen sail through the skies. But
these onlookers missed the greatest
part OF the flying which is worth double
the price Of admission and which those
who were inside the ropes declared
they would not have missed If it took
their last penny. They could not see
the start and the finish, the skimming
along the ground for several hundred
feet at terrific rate of speed and the
gradual lifting into the, air. This
brought astonishment and admiration.
Then to see the flyers descend to
earth and alight as gracefully as they
rose was equally as astonishing.
AIrships on Exhibition.
When the huge crowd began to ar.
rive even earlier than the time set for
the opening, a great tent was opened
for the close inspection of the three
monster birds, with an exhibitor ex-
planning the working and construc-
ton. There are three machines, rep
CONTINUED on Page 81