St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-09-13

The 65th annual Caledonia County
fair opened yesterday morning and
presented an exhibition of cattle and
horses that cannot be duplicated in
Vermont outside of the state fair.
Besides Caledonia county horses and
cattle there are exhibits from Maine,
New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
The fair will continue until Friday
night and promises three lively days
show.
There was the usual opening day
crowd in attendance yesterday and
barring the rain in the early morn
ing the day was ideal for the races
and other events, although rather
windy for the big event, the flight of
the famous bird-man Ely.
Ely Makes Successful Flight.
A slight change was necessitated
in the program for the aviator event,
but the people who came a long dis
tance to see the wonderful Jimmie
Ward were not disappointed, as in
his place the management was fortu-
nate in securing Eugene B. Ely who
was sent from Boston to fill the en-
gagement. The aviator shed was the
center of attraction during the early
part of the afternoon and the people
were able, through the courtesy of
the helpers to acquire considerable
knowledge concerning the art of
air navigation and the mechanism
of the biplane.
Although there was strong and
unsteady wind, which made the
attempt decidedly dangerous, q sue
FL sr~11 oh 1xr
after four O'Clock; The biplane,
Curtiss, with speed capacity of
from rs to 80 miles hour in a calm
was taken to the extreme south
of the field for the start. After run
ming the length OF the field, the bird
man scared gracefully to a height of
about 1000 feet. Ely took a course
toward the north to a point above the
sand bank near the bridge, where in
face of a strong wind, he turned a
wide circle, going directly toward
the sun, which was shining brightly
thence to the east to the river and
back to the starting point where he
alighted.
Although in the air only about two
minutes the flight was an exceeding
ly pretty one to watch and those
present were enthusiastic in their
praise of the feat.
When asked how high he went,
Ely said he was too busy to notice
anything but his machine. He said
that on account of the treacherous
wind the flight was a dangerous one.
He will make three flights daily to-
morrow and Thursday and with fa-
vorable weather these events prom
tn in Of
aviation ever witnessed in Vermont.
Ely is one of the oldest aviators
in the country in point of expert
ence, although young in years, and
one of the worlds most famous
aviators. He had with him
biplane used at the recent
Chicago and Boston meet, where at
the latter place about two weeks
ago he raced against Grahame-White
and others of the worlds famous
birdmen, winning nearly every prize.
He was one of the aviators at Beach,
N. Y, last Sunday when Tom Sop
with landed in the lake and Ely
was the only man in the whole
bunch who did not smash his ma
chine. Among his best known feats
was the flying off and on the bat
tleships at Hampton Roads, Va, and
the Cruiser Pennsylvania at San
Francisco Bay.
Between the races Mr.. Duncan of
Speedwell Farms gave an exhibition,
driving Star and Elegant tandem
past the grandstand. The Alabama
Four also gave pleasing exhibit
ton.
The Races.
The races Tuesday were pulled
off according to schedule, Chester
Pike acting as starter. The judges
were E. D. Harpin of Windsor,
Frank Thrasher of Barton and Har-
ry Blodgett of ST. Johnsbury.
In the Futurity pace, foals 1908, |
purse $3.50, the summary was as
follows:
Dorothy Dot, &C. v. Perry) II
Nell Cander, &C. N. Whitney, 2 2 !
Ecept, CT. Bellville) 8 8 |
Dandy p Wilkes, &C. Palmer) 4
Time for one-half mile, 1.42A,
134.
In the Futurity trot, foa1s of
1908, purse $3.50. The summary was
as follows:
Edith Axworthy, (P. D. Bacon)
st. Johnsbury, 1 1 |
Airline Chimes, &C. Blodgett)
ST. Johnsbury, 2 2
General Gerry, &C. A. Gerry
West Danville, 8 3
Time for half-mile, 1.18a4s 1.20A.
The Cattle Show.
Caledonia County Fair never had /
such a showing of cattle as are on /
i