Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-09-24
1T WAS LINCOLN BEACHY IN
DISGUISE.

A Chicago paper speaks of Lincoln
Beachy's aviation work in Chicago
last Sunday as follows:
mile. CIarice Lavateur captured
the hearts and held the eyes of 200, OOO
Chicagoans Sunday by an exhibition
unequaled in the history of aviation
for daring and as spectacle.
Two ayiators flying over the lake,
engrossed in watching her, fell into
the water. A party of eight men and
women in a small launch, while
straining forward to see her, ovel.
turned their craft almost at the same
instant.
The police accomplished thrilling
rescues in both cases, but there was
none to applaud them. Not an eye
in the grandstand was turned their
way, although both accidents were
within full view of the throng. All
looked at the speeding aviatrix.
She caught every eye the moment
she appeared on the field. She wore
none of the paraphernalia with which
flyers usually disguise themselves.
Her gown was Paris creation of
blue silk with passeme n5erie trim
ming. A crimson automobile veil was
tied jauntily beneath her chin. She
had neglected to secure her skirts
by the customary elastic band.
Every one of the $4,000 men in the
audience stood on his chair when the
aviatrix stepped into her biplane an6
tucked her skirts daintily about her.
Not few fell off their impromptu
perches when she mounted in the air
and flew directly above their heads.
Careening from side to side the
speeding machine dashed drunkei.iy
about the field, narrowly grazing hos
pital and hangar tents; touching the
ground at one moment and soaring
almost perpendicularly to a dizzy
height the next. Spectators held their
breath in unison, expecting every
moment that the daring flyer would
be dashed TO death.
over the CROW park she flew,
sWooplng so close u the ground that
the onlookers lodged and ran for safe
ty. A general exodus from Michigan
avenue into side streets and buildings
followed the shouted announcement
of an excited spectator that she was
headed that way. Those who waited
to see her pass above them will never
regret it.
For thirty minutes the aviatrjx held
the crowds breathless. With the rub
ber-tired wheels of her machine she
danced jigs on the field; she banked
her turns at such perilous angles that
experienced ayiators who watched her
ciutched eacn other in their excite
ment. When she finally stopped her
motor and swooped gracefully to the
field wild cheer arose from the !
followed by a demand |
that she be seen at closer range.
In response to the ovation the hero
ire of the meet tripped across the |
field arranging as she walked her gar
ments, which the wind had sadly dis
When she reached the fence
between the field and the grandstand |
she withdrew her veil. Then the |
spectators had the greatest thrill of |
the afternoon. 1t was not unaccom-
panied by disappointment in many
cases.
With the veil came off a blonde wig,
a damp handkerchief removed the
peach bloom that glowed on the
cheeks. Before the crowd stood Mile. |
Clarice'
She was Lincoln Beachey in dis
guise."
Those who saw Lincoln Beachey in
Wausau the week previous can I'M
derstand what didos he must have !
cut up in Chicago. Our people do not
realize that Lincoln Beachey while |
here on the Sth of Sept, gave one of |
the best exhibitions ever witnessed |
There is an attempt being
made to bring Mr.. Beachey to Wau-
sau again this fall. 1t is safe to say
that if he does come the fair grounds |
will hardly hold the crowd that will
greet him, and there will not be any
one hanging on to the outside of the
fence either.