Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-03
Spectators Must be Inside Of
Aviation Field to Get Full
Benefit Of Thrills; Barrier
Talks Of Flying.
GUARDSMEN TO
PATROL THE FIELD
Company G to be Used at
Grounds - First Day Of
Aviation Meet at Des
Moines a Success.

Ine real excitement IN an aVlaLlOH
meet, such as will be held at Wild
wool countryside next Tuesday, We'd
nesday and Thursday, is gained only
by being inside the aviation field,
where the start and finish of the great
flights can be Witnessed. The bird
men who will appear here are fore
most in their profession, and they
will show the great crowds who are
expected to fill the aviation field some
of the most exciting and thrilling ex-
amples of mastery of the frail air
craft that will carry them to great
attitudes. Otumwans have scrutin-
lied airships at close range, but never
has an opportunity been given the
residents of this city and many In
southern Iowa to view the fights Of
the flimsy, yet powerful aircraft that
the Moisant International AviatOrs
will bring here next week. The oppor-
tunity is one that none should miss,
and the aviation field in South Ot-
tumwa should be packed on the days of
the monster meet.
Rene Barrier, the winner Of the
Castle Moro fight prize, who will
fly here, is considered one OF the best
aviators in the profession today. The
lure of the clouds holds something
more than excitement to Barrier. He
tells OF the destinations found In ayia-
ting in the following words:
"You ask me why like to fly high,
why it is that when leave the ground
l Immediately start climbing up to the
higher attitudes instead OF remaining
nearer the ground and my answer is
that love the great heights, that when
the day is calm and the winds certain
and not treacherous, would rather
fly than take the most enjoyable ride
in any other vehicle than an aeroplane.
There is something that lures me on
to the clouds. Many times l have
started out intending to remain within
five hundred feet of the ground but
always I find myself climbing, climb.
ing, until the houses below me look
like little specks and the forest or
woodlands merely little patches of
green.
1T is quite up there. 1t Is restful.
Always It is cool and very often ex-
hilaratingly cold. Several times l
have had the ice form on my machine,
forcing me to descend.
High flying very often tries mans
nerves If he allows himself to think
how awful it is to be SO close to his
maker and so far away from his fel.
low man. But one should not think
of the danger give myself up sole
ly to the working of the machine and
to watching the scene as 1t unfolds it.
self below. You can see for scores of
miles in every direction. Very often
you can see as many as three or four
rivers. Once when making a cross
country flight could see the sun
plainly while below me all was dark.
This was owing to the earth's curve
ture and my great heigth. 1t is won
derful, this altitude flying and to me 1t
is the most pleasant Of the many fea-
lures of the game.
The Commercian association has en-
listed the services Of Company G to
patrol the grounds anil do guard duty
during the meet. Captain G. r. Schamp
will have q full squad the entire three
days for protection to the public and
to keep all out of the way of the
flyers.
The Meet at Des Moines.
The first day of the monster avia-
ton meet at Des Moines yesterday
was q distinct success. Concerning
the activities of the birdmen, the
Register and Leader this morning
said:
Rene Simon, the little Frenchman
with the reputation for putting on fool
stunts in the air was the first man out
yesterday.
During the afternoon the wind, blow
ing from the southwest, reached
maximum velocity Of twenty miles an
hour, this at o'clock. Simon waited
until 4:45 o'clock before he mounted
to his seat in the tail of his Moisant
monoplane, right back of the engine
and the propeller.
Simon doesn't waste any time get
ting off the ground. One turn Of the
propeller caught the explosion of the
gas, in twinkling the propeller was
out of sight in its own speed, making
1,25O revolutions minute.
Loosed by the helpers the machine
sailed straight down over the heavy
sand and up into the teeth of the wind,
amid the cheering from the hundreds