The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-20
A Whirlwind of Thrills

The third afternoon of the great avia- stion meet automobile show and races now going on in Birmingham, opened to the largest attendance since the gates were orened yesterday afternoon. Fully 15,ooe people surged across and over the spacious grounds, in the grandstand and in through the great automobile show. It truly was a inspiring spec tacJe. Nappi's band was playing tuneful music: racing cars were warming up on the one mile circular track. and away wonder like the headquarters Of an army in enoampment, were the big hangars of the Berger aviators
 The first aviator in the air was Aviator L, w. Bonney in his Wright biplane, and he sailed upwards in series or spiral climbs that was beautiful to LOOK at Bonney spurred on by the high flights of Brindley and Jimmy Ward the day before, was after the altitude rec ord. although he had made no announce ment Of the fact. and he went upwards of TOGO feet, in ideal conditions. He had tried out the lccal conditions and says he is satisfied that he will be able to go after the record in another attempt
 J,mmy Ward, in the shooting Star" followed. and he vanished cut of sight over Jones' valley, closely followed by Oscar Brindley in No. ''22S' Wright hi- plane.
 Close to Grim Death
 Everything was going along prettiiy with little suggestion of the close tragedy to follow. when Aviator Fred Schneider. noanufacturer of the Schneider biplane of New York city, but who travels with the Berger aviators, left the ground in h1 own machine. Schneider had been hav- ing trouble with his engine and had just installed a new one. He got away all right, but could not make the first incline. When near the first turn of the track away from the grandstand, the biplane turned up on one end for second ard half Tapped down again. then it hurried down towards the track. Schneider managed to balance himself and tried to make landing on the track. but failed. He sustained injuries sbout the face and hands ana broke parts of the machine, which after short delay was gotten into the infield.
 Peck Flies
 Great excitement prevailed among the erandstands and hangars when Schneider fell. as it was first rumored that he was killed. Paul Peck. in his Columbia bi- plane. therefore, went up in flight and scared over the selfsame pathway in which Schneider had been so unlucky. Wind conditions had changed, however. n D.ol~ l. fl,o 6Vuf n lfrn and went up high, high over the grounds. He encircled the field several times and then returned to the hangar.
 Before Peck alighted, however. Aviator Eugene IIeth. in his Wright hiplane. took along with him Dan N. Rubin of the Birmingham News staff and went straight up up, in magnificent flight over Jones valley It was brilliant flight in every way.
 Fifteen Mile Race
 The great Ia mile automobile race for a purse of s20O was then started with four entrants: Lyons, in Chalmers-De- troit: Norman, in Buick; Barr. in stutz, and Ixatz in EMF.
 The referee was pr. James E. Dedman
 
 who appeared for the first time. Judge Dan Green came on the track later. He was also timekeeper Technical repre- sentative of the Automobile Association of America was A. NJ. Kennedy of Mont gomery, who also acted as referee and timekeeper.
 The first and second money went to Norman and Barr as the race was stopped by the referees when the accident occurred. S
 Then, to relieve the tension melted by , the accident, there came soaring over the infield again Aviators Bonney and Ward They made frequent dips and quick. sharp turns near the ground. aviators' horse- play. to entertain the crowd. Paul Peck followed in his Columbia biplane: the