The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-16

at tho grounds was not so inclcment as
was expected. = warm sun which shonc
continuously on the dry and comfortable
grandstand made the afternoon much
more pleasant for the spectators than for
the avlatorS. who were forced TO face
biting breeze and later binding snow
storm.
ELY was the frs, aviator to rise from
the park. His machine ran over the new
ly prepared runway for fifty or sixty
yards and then rose majestically toward
the lake. climbing rapidly. He soon
reached an altitude OF a thousand feet
and more above the hyInS course. He
made wide circle over the Great salt
lake and then returned TO the flying field.
high above the grandstand and the spec
tators.
Flies in Snowstorm.
On his second wide turn about the field
he encountered the first sno~storm OF
his flying career. The storm was north
Of the flying park and only "a little oil
II reached the field. In the distance 1t
appeared like great fog. Soon the fall
ing snow was visible 10 the spectators
from the field and in a tricc Ely and his
machine were lost In the thickest OF 1t,
For some moments the aviator was en-
tirely out OF sight OF the crowd. Finally
he emerged from the storm. mere dot
on the sky. He made another swing out
over the lake and returned TO the flying
field.
Again Ely passed high above the grand
stand, travelling al "A tremendous speed.
Suddenly his machine appeared to stop.
| above the grandstand Then 1t turned
| in a beautiful downward glide that
brought Els hundreds OF feet nearer the
| earth. The downward curve executed
was ono OF the most sensational of the
| meet. He came 10 within a few hundred
| feet OF the earth and then continued his
| wide circlng at lower altitude. Ely
alighted beautifully and gracefully after
| a fifteen minute flight.
Willard Furnishes Thrills.
The real thrills Of the day were fur
nished by Willard. Five minutes after
Ely first left the ground Willard Joined
him In the air. Going north, Willard ran
Into the snowstorm in which Ely was
lost 1t was also his first experience al
flying in a snowstorm, He was always
| within sight OF the crowd. although a,
times IL was difficult to locate him In The
falling snow. He kept at a lower alti-
| he executed some Of the most marvellous
| aerial maneuvers ever witnessed on this
or any other field. Persons in the crowt
of spectators who had seen the aviation
meets at Belmont Park. Los Angeles
San Francisco and other places, said thai
the celebrated spiral glldes of Johnstone
| IoXsey. Brookins and other famous avia
tors did not even approach the hair-rais
| ing dips and glidcs executed by Willard
here on Wednesday.
Willard came down low and passed di
speed of seventy miles an hour. so close
to the spectators that they could ,almos
reach out and touch him. AT the end o.
! the grandstand, without decreasing th6
| speed OF the aeroplane he doubled back
sharply. the machine turning within rs
own length. He twisted sharply nortl
and just graZed the top of his hangar
Then he clrcled the Held and made 9
sensational dive at The moving picture
men. From height OF about fifty fee
he turned the prov of the aeropant
downward and dove directly at tn,
| camera
startles tine Crowd.
Instead Of checking the downward
plunge of the aeroplane. he took hi
hands from the steering wheel and wavec
| them both above his head. laughinl
gaily. Just as the people were shuttin.
their eyes to avoid seeing the awful lrag
edy that appeared 10 be inevitable, WI
lard used one hand 10 elevate the pla ne
and glfded over the group OF men. amos
grazing their heads. He scared upwarc
again for little way. only To make
sharp friendly dive at a group OF news
paper men In the center OF the field
laughing as they scattered In terror.
| Willard Kept at close range all of tn
time and the spectators were given a
opportunity to watch all of the manpu