The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-02


j. G. Bud) Mars, who was hurt
when he fell with his aeroplane at
Erie, Pa, is rapidly recovering.
Mars is one of the most picturesque
and daring of the fliers and in little
more than year has made his name
famous as an aeroplanist in many
parts Of the world.
1t was shortly after the Los Angeles
aviation meet, early in 1910, where
Mars made several sensational bal
loon flights, soaring to tremendous
heights, that he went to Hammonds-
port, n. Y, and became pupil of
Glenn II. Curtiss. Less than six weeks
after that he was on the road giving
exhibition flights in an aeroplane and
startling thousands by his daring.
Last December Mars started for the
orient. He returned early In June,
after having made 25O flights and leav-
ing the populace of country after coun-
try agape with wonder. He was the
first to carry aviation to the far east.
Mars spent his childhood days on
the shore Of Lake Michigan, but early
went to Chicago to win his fortune.
He tried the theater and from that
drifted to the circus, making his first
appearance in a trapeze act and later
becoming the understudy of a high
diver. For some months he was a
Spectacular attraction" and won a
name for fearlessness and daring.
Raloonine With Baldwin.
tIa
a pupil of Captain Thomas 8. Baldwin,
the balloonist, and soon was appearing
at exhibitions as MARS, the lion perved
daredevil" He was then sixteen
years old, and ever since he has made
his living by the conquest Of the air.
He early experimental with the "glid-
err" which he christened the "Fool Kill
err" and with this contrivance gave
exhibitions.
Mars became associated with Israel
Ludlow during the Jamestown expo
sition, and they built a number Of huge
men carrying kites, with which they
made experiments over Hampton
Roads.
After the jamestown exposition Mars
formed the United Balloon corpora
ton. having interested nearly all the
aeronauts in the country and several
capitalists in the venture. The finan-
cial depression of 1907 wiped the cor
poration out and Mars own fortune
too.
1t was in the fall Of 1909 that Mars
became official pilot of the Oakland
(Cal) Aero club. 1t was while making
his balloon flights at Los Angeles, ear
ly in 1910, that Mars was attracted by
the possibilities of the eeroplane, an6
his reputation attracted the attention
of Mr.. Curtiss.
Mars made his first professional aero
plane fight in Memphis, Tenn, shar
ing the honors of the day with Cur
tiss. He had a narrow escape from
death that day as his aeroplane bump
ed into an automobile.
In August, 1910, Mars made a mum
Der of spectacular flights at tht
Sheepshead bay race track and OF
Aug. 27 almost came 10 grief IN an at
tempt to ay from the course across
the NarroWs. He was carried to see
by a strong wind, and when opposite
the Atlantic Yacht club his machine
collapsed. He was then 1000 feet II
the air. He was picked up by a tul
little the worse for his experience an(
taken 10 Sea Gate.
Oriental Tour Made Mars Famous.
1t was by his trip to the orient
shortly after the Belmont park NEE
last fan, that Mars made his nam,
oil khn
that started on this trip included Cap
tain Baldwin, Mars, two agents, thre
mechanics, Tod Shriver and his wifi
and Mrs. Mars. They showed in thi
country at Norfolk, Denver, Phoeni:
and Stockton and left San Francisc
in December. Captain Baldwin STOP
ped in Japan.
In Japan Mars few at Osaka, Kobe
Nagoya, Tokyo and Yokohama, and a
Osaka there was the biggest crow
that ever witnessed an aviation pei
formance. At least 10000 people say
the flight.
''The people just ate it up" sal
Mars, 'the upper class and the rabbi
alike. They wanted to know how 500
they could have a feet Of them
In Japan. as well as in the othe
countries where he flew, Mars and hi
party were treated royalty. In one O
his flights in Japan he reached an alt
tude Of $500 feet, bit Of daring the
won for him the admiration OF tn
populace.
In China Mars few at Pekipg an
at T4entsin, and at first his flight
threw the people into panic. In II
dia and IN the islands under EN-
lish domination Mars and his part
received every sort of honor that ID
native pOtentates could bestow. II
also flew at Manila, In Honolulu, 81
matra. Java. Singapore, Calcutta, X
rea, Siam, Siberia, Russia and Polan'
At Bankok. in Siam. Mars took th
king of Siam as a passenger for
twelve mile flight. His last higl
abroad was made at Warsaw late 1