The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1911-05-11
Strong Wind
ON FLIGHTS
JIMMY WARD MAKES TWO
PLuckY ATTEMPTS AT JEs-
SEX PARK YESTERDAY
Immense Crowd Watches Bird Man
Operate His Mach ne In the
Lower Air Att
tudes.

"The air currents had a twist
from the foot hills that demanded
care in flight" said Jimmy Ward
last night, and | was very much
disappointed at not being able to
go after the Frisby altitude cup,
but will double my program for
Thursday, anc hope to 90 even
higher here than | have at other
places" There will be no at
tempt AT flight to the city, all
efforts being concentrated in the
doubled program at Essex Park
This afternoon when the little
blrdman will set up mark that
he hopes to stand as record
from Arkansas soil for long
time.
An immense throng of people was
disappointed in failing to see Jimmy
Ward, the aviator, in a higher aIti
tude flight at Essex Park yesterday
afternoon, but the high wind and
conflicting air currents proved too
much for the frail craft, and after
weaving and swaying in the lower
attitudes in two attempts, Ward gave
up the attempt for the day.
It was not an aviator's day, by
any means. gusty wind blowing
diagonally across the park. first up
and then down. and shifting in drec-
tion so that 1t puzzled even an ex-
perienced air man like Wapd
Just before the close OF the racing
program 1t was announced that Ward
would make his fight, Immediately
after the races closed.
The aviator after studying the shift.
ing wind in the open center field,
requested the Management to raise
flag fro mthe club house flag pole, so
he could observe the variations of the
wind. and he would make the attempt
even under the adverse conditions.
The best the committee could do was
to raise small red pennant, and
soon afterwards the air craft was
wheeled into the center field.
Waiting for a favorable wind, the
motor was started, and the craft
glided along the ground for a dis
tance of about so feet, rose and
skinned the inner circle of the track
for a hundred feet or more, when
Ward noticed that the motor was not
doing its work right. He brought
the machine to the ground, and 1t
was backed up to the starting point.
After readiusting the machine to
suit the variable winds. the start
was made again after considerable
delay.
This time the machine rose grace
fully and started on sharp upward
flight. amid the cheers of the null
titude who thought the bird man
was due for the clouds on this flight
The machine reached an altitude of
about 100 feet when 1t struck an ad-
verse current. and the plane dipped
dangerously. Ward DETECTED the ma
chine as though intending to alight,
but as it settled it struck a more
favorable air current and he sent 1t
up again This time he made the
turn at the upper end of the course
and the machine again dipped side
wise only righting itself after it had
been turned to fly with the wind. As
soon as 1t righted itself the aviator
settled 1t in its course and flew down
on an even keel, turning at the fringe
OF trees where he again encountered
the variable winds. He headed the
machine for the center field and
alighted
After studying the wind for few
minutes he motioned the attendants
TO take the machine back to the han
gar, and the flight was over for the
Gay.
While there was keen disappoint-
ment at not seeing an altitude flight,
spiral dips and other frills of the
await on profession. the big crowd
eheered the plucky aviator's attempt
to give them run for their money
under discouraging conditions.
The failure of the flight was not
due SO much to the high wind which
swept over the course, as it was to
the gusty variations of the winds, the
iuctuatine air currents and the alto
ether bad flying weather.
Il mr.. Ward will make an attempt to-