Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-10
JoHNsroNEs THRILLING FLIGHT


St. Croix tombstone the famous
aviator pleased everybody Wednesday
afternoon making an ascension i'm his
Moisant n,onoplane. With splendid
start, thrilling sails and perfect land
ing.
Manager Hanks ordered the baseball
field cleared at loo announcing that
tombstone needed all the space in
starting and landing The crowd scat
tered Oat came tire machine from the
tcnt and interest in the horse races
was at discount II was placed in
position on the baseball diamond and
soon after O'Clock the engine was
st8"ted and down the gradual descent
i went faster than any ball player
ever eprinted for second base The
machine failed To leave the ground,
however, and WHEN Wei down in cen
ter field tombstone shut off the pow
er and came to standstill The
crowd was kept back and the craft
wheeled back to the starting place. and
at 30 another start male
This time it was n success. Down by
the second base the monoplane was
seen Ia leave the ground and in few
seconds was creeping higher and high
er into the air in a southerly direc-
ton with the crowd cheering.
The wind was southerly. but not
strong. though somewhat gnstY, 1t did
not seem To bother tombstone parti-
Gle and the airship slded along as
steadily rs a ship at sta. with the buzz
OF the engine and the whirr of the
propeller audible to everyone.
.Tohnstone shaped his course out
over the Kennebec, turning to cross so
as to pass over the Insane hospital
buildings and circle the tall chimney
at the institution. Circlne and grad
ualy ascending, he re-erossed the river,
after having given the EastsFders a
view of his craft and hack over the
trotting park he came The crowd
again cheered him.
All this time the machine was plain
" visible and every eve was turned
upon ii the racing being suspended
for few minutes.
tombstone kept his monoplane con
stantiy rising and again he crossed the
the river and over the Insane hospital
far up in the air. headed up river about
| northeast. Smaller and smaller grew
| the object in the air aud higher and
higher it mounted. until il disappeared
/ FROM view.
Keeping on the east side and passing
near the Augusta Lumber Cos mil
/ he was given a whistle salute anc
| thousands of people had their first
| view of an aeroplane in flight
tombstone navigated about in di
rection that took him above the city
then turning came down the river ant
| again appeared in view To the peopl,
on the track as a mere sneck abov,
the trees on the State grounds aertl
of the park and on the west side o
the river.
Nearer and nearer it came until tn
noise of tie engine was again hearC
/ and he began his descent. 1t was
perfect one. tombstone judging his dis
tauce to a nicely and striking TIN
| ground within a few feet OF wher
he started on the bah diamond Tn
velocity of the machine carried it on
into the field, but ready hands wer
there and il was soon at standstill
The crowd then made a grand rusl
for the plucky and skilled aviator an,
lac was repeatedly cheered and con
graduated. 1t was possibly 4 common
plact. flight for Johnstone but a won
derfui one for the crowd His elides
circles and sklllful handling of the mo
noplane We're a revelation to all.
tombstone will make another ascen
sion THURSDAY afternoon, possibly
little earlier If the weather permits.