Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-01-30

lseen gentry of this ilk before, but
never in such numbers and variety.
The flying was scheduled to begin
lat $780, About that time a man with
a megaphone informed the sufferers
on the .bleachers that for two bits
they could go into the big tent and in
spect the flying machines. A good
many went, but the sequel showed that
they could have saved their quarters
lby waiting
Only three OF the six or seven ma
chines in the tent were brought out.
Then there was long, weary wait
before anything was done. At last,
Iabout IA 80, the smallest aeroplane
skinned along the ground for about
la hundred yards and gracefully arose
against the wind, which was blowing
at about thirty miles an hour, though
the megaphone proclaimed that the
thermometer showed the rate to be
lforty-five miles. The aviator circled
Iaround the field twice and alighted
linear the point OF starting. After an
other long wait the same machine du-
lplicated the first performance, and
this, no doubt, would have ended the
show If it hadn't been for what hap
pened. But this is another story.
There were approximately ten thou
sand people to see the performance,
many of whom had come from long
distances at considerable expense.
Many of the town people could only
see the show on that day. All wanted
the worth of their money, and there
was a general feeling that they were
being tricked. In fact, the immense
throng was getting into an ugly hui
NOR. They refused to accept the ex-
cuse that the wind was 100 strong.
Here and there impatient spectators
began to break over the lines. For a
while the police and mounted patrol
men were able to drive them back,
but as the evening wore on and moth
| ing was doing the restiveness of the
spectators increased. Finally, grand
rush was made from the south side
which swept away all resistance and
overlooked the field. This was followed
by closing in of the line all around.
A dense mass of humanity surrounded
each of the three machines, those
who could get near enough practically
taking possession of them. The mob
was deaf to all appeals to leave the
field and it was up to the manage
ment to do something. The crowd was
in no mood for excuses and there was
danger that something unpleasant
would happen Only the assurance
front two of the aeroplanes would fly
restored peace. The other machine
was said TO be out of commission be-
couse they couldn't crank it." A lane
was quickly made in front of the two
that We're able to fly and they arose,
one after the other, and great cheer
went up. The anger of the mob was
appeased. The larger of the two aero
planes, after circling the field twice, |
alighted but the little one sailed away |
to the northwest until it disappeared |
from view. An automobile was dis |
patched after it, and it was ascer-
tanned later that a safe landing was
effected about five miles from the
field"
BY this time it was almost sunset,
and the crowd dispersed in good hui
NOR, though We heard several express
the opinion that the attendance for
the remaining days of the meet would
be small
If aviators don't quit fooling the
people and lying down on what they
advertise to do, they deserve to be
treated as other showmen who fail to
make good. As yet the aeroplane is
nothing but plaything; it has not
developed sufficient utility to entitle
it to special consideration on that ac-
count. When it does, if ever it does,
its claim to the esteem OF the public
will rest on different basis.
Summing up our impressions of the 4
Houston aviation meet, we are like a
man who. after losing two teeth and
being otherwise dishgured in a land
rush, said he would not have missed
It for a thousand dollars and wouldn't
repeat the experience for two thou
sand.
There is, perhaps, no imaginative
boy or girl whose heart has not re-
sponded to the sentiment of the old
songs: "Ah! for Wings" This longing
was so strong in this scribe's breast
hat his favorite childish diversion
vas making believe that he was a
bird, and in dreams he often had
wings. With other puerile fancies this