The Sentinel=record., 1911-05-06
DECORATIONS FOR
 ELK CONVENTION
CITY FAST TAKING ON HOLIDAY ATTIRE IN HONOR OF NEXT
 WEEKS FESTIVITIES
Much Discussion of the Big AerlaI Meet at Essex. Which Win be
 Feature of the Entertainment.

Hot Springs began yesterday to take on the purple and white decorative effects. in honor of the big Elk con vention, which Is to be held here three days next week, beginning Tuesday. Many big social and enter tainment features are arranged by the committee to make the visiting Elks have the time of their lives during this state convention.
 Most interest probably centers in the big aviation meet at Essex Park during the three days of the conven- tion, which will be under the direc. tion of the Glenn Curtiss fiers
 Wonderful as has been the career |of many of the worlds noted birdmen, none has had more meteoric rise to fame as an aviator than has Jas. J. Ward, of Chicago who is a mem Der of the famous Curtiss flying squad" Abandoning the automobile, with which he had won. a name for himself in the west as a daredevil racing driver, he took up flying be- cause the aeroplane fascinated him That he has spent more time in the air in the past four months than many flyers have spent in whole year is due to the fact that he has retained his enthusiasm.
 Since he qualified as an aviator and received his Curtss machine, Ward has never lost an opportunity to take to the air. He has flown when not required of him. because of his love Tor flying. In New Orleans. where he entered the meet in December as an unknown, he had his aeroplane as sembled the day before the meet opened and was in the air before the other aviators had their machines out of the boxes. His flights that day. jus, for fun made him easily one of the favorites of the meet. during which he made new reputation daily as an expert and daring flyer.
 From New Orleans. Ward starteet on tour of the south. winning new laurels with every engagement. StiI his fame was hardly more than local because flying has become common place to such an extent that it is onl, the extraordinary accomplisbment, that are put on the news wires America suddenly awoke to the fac that a new star had appeared on thi. side of the Atlantic, when on Januar, G. newspapers from sea to seo pub lished stories of his flight in his four cylinder Curtiss biplane down the Charles river out over historic Forts Sumter and Moultrie and on out tc sea for three miles at an altitude oj 2,700 feet.
 The flight was made for the pur- pose of demonstrating the utility oi the aeroplane for scouting purposes and the altitude reached, the highest for any machine of equal horsepower was sufficient to insure safety for ma. chine and aviator from the fire oi large or small guns. On his return flight. Ward alighted on the beach in front of Fort Moultrie by appoint ment with the commandant. to whom he delivered a message before he pro ceeded on his way back up the river over the villages to the aviation field where the Charleston aviation meet was in progress. His flight was one ot which any veteran might feel proud Later the young aviator participated in the meet held on the military field at Havana, Cuba, being one of the first men to fly an aeroplane over Cuban soll. His popularity was so great that he was flooded with offers which couie not well be refused, and he remained on the island more than two months Tying in over a score of cities and towns and never missing day be cause of wind.
 He then returned to the states. fly 'ng at St. Augustine, Fla. and is now on a tour which will take him to mos, of the larger cities in the United States before he ends his first year