The Washington herald., 1911-09-05

at least-were ended.
Long before the plethoric business man
had lifted his drowsy head, hundreds
of families carrying lunch baskets and
the other paraphernalia of a picnic day,
wended their way toward Benning. All
along the line flags of various organiza-
tions, overtopped by the stars and
ers, and told them of the gayety that
was in store
BY 10 o'clock in the morning the cars
to Benning were crowded to overflow
ing, and those persons living in the
northeast section found It impossible to
reach the scene unless they walked.
Thus, on foot, in carriages, by auto
mobile, and by car. hundreds of merry
makers wended their way amid the dust.
and uncomplainingly made plans when
The wearying journey should be over.
Good Old Days Recalled.
Benning field would have delighted the
ghost of some old bookie, recalling 10
his phantom mind the days when gen.
tleman might place a little bet with
out interference of the police.
From the iron stanchions of the grand
stand long strings of flags were arranged,
and rcsettes Of multi-colored bunting
made prosaic wood resemble a bower
of the fairies. Long before the ball
game between the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing and the Navy Yard be-
gan the grand stand was files and the
overflow sought comfort along the rail-
ings of the race track President Com
pers, with Secretary ColpOys and James
L. Feeney. reached the field just as the
baseball game was about TO begin. They
took seats in the box behind the judges
stand
Keeps Crowd on Edge.
While the throng from all Washington
was settling itself for the entertain
ment, the first of the motOrcyclists, par
Elephants in a sport as hazardous as any
automobile race, wheeled their frail ma
chimes into the center OF the track and
prepared for the first race. a three-mile
event for novices. This race began at 3
o'clock. and. with its successors. kept
the crowd on the qui vive until the triple
attack by aeros completed the entertain
ment of the day. Results of the races
will be found below.
Though the races were replete with
hair-breath escapes from accident, and
time after time collisions were avoided
by a margain so narrow as to tauten
weak nerves. only one injury was re-
corded.
Capt. Daley. of the Ninth precinct, in
charge of forty policemen, who patrolled
the grounds, was struck by bit OF fly
ing machinery that broke from William
FeuerStein's motorcycle and was slightly
cut. Inspector Boyle, standing near him.
was struck in the chest by a bolt soon
afterward. but was not injured
Capt Daley was standing within three
feet of the Feuerstein machine as il
dashed by at full speed. He partly
turned to push back the thrOng that
tried 10 crowd on the course. and as he
did the flying bit of metal struck his
hand. cutting two fingers. The officer
applied first aid and continued his duties
with a handkerchief wrapped around his
fingers.
Brings Joyous WhOOp.
The races were at their height when
from the lookOuts at the northern end
OF the field came an inarticulate whoOp
of joy. The cry was taken up by twenty.
by a hundred, by ten thousand. and in
an instant the whole grand stand seemed
to rise up in a maze of waving color.
Capt Peck. carving as his passenger
L. b. DAILY. a Washington newspaper
man, came Ealing over the course at a
height Of 100 feet He circled twice
lowered the nose of his Curtss biplane
and volplGned 200 feet in a manner that
the stoutest-hearted felt dizzy. Then.
witt two short circles, he headed
straight for the small oval and landed
lightly near the eastern erd of the field
Hardly had he climbed from his machine
than another cry went up.
This time Lieut.. Henry H. Arnold,
bringing with him Lieut. F. NJ. Kennedy
came sailing across the ambient course
lately vacated by his colleague. He
didn't take the chances that Capt. Beck
did. partially because he had on board
complete moving picture outfit, with
which to take the Benning race track
and contiguous scenery.
Three long spiral curves brought Lieut.
Arnold to earth as easily as Capt Beck.
Then came the news that a third army
officer. representing the last of the avia-
tion squad at College Park. was on his
way. In few moments the crowd be-
h I'D a little spack that moved unerringly
along the air path of the other machines
While the crowd chtered itself hoarse
Lieut.. Kirkland Slded into place between
the other machines. and Benning field
erstwhile nome of the blooded horse
became sort Of open-air hangar
GrenteSt Feat Accomplished.
When they landed the army officers de-
CldTeu lnGlI triple UlSHl III dll was NllS
greatest feat ever accomplished by the
aviation school at College Park. They
made the arrangement yesterday after
noon to travel together. but decided to
travel at one-minute intervals, so that
no difficulty would be found in landing
But the real event of the day was the
innovation of aerial moving pictures
taken by Lieut.. F. NJ. Kennedy. AS he
sailed from the little field at College
Park to the Benning track. Lieut.. Ken
nedy unwrapped about 1,5OO feet of film.
Snatches of country, with replica Of
the roads and hills, were stamped on
the moving picture film. and the army
officers believe they now have COM
plete typographical reproduction Of the
country, such as could be used in time
of war.
Lieut. Arnold was the first of the trio
to leave the grounds. He went away
while Lieut. Kirkland was tuning UP his
/ machine, and Capt. Beck was replacing
damaged stanchion. He had hardly
disappeared in the sky before Lieut.
Kirkland started heavenward. When
Capt Beck vanished the field was al
most dark