The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-23

race track in northerly direc
ton for his start. AS he seated
himself and opened the throttle, the
fan started in buzz and blew one
young urchin's cap high into the
air. This created a laugh and some
fun. He remained up in the all
the longest the second time. His
course resembled the checkered me
andering route of river, with the
exception that it crossed and re
crossed it's former paths.
After rising to his desired height
he went over the north end lime
kilns of the Fowler & Pay company
scared toward the river, then went
toward Eagle Lake, over the hills
came south almost to the grand stand
again. and then veered off in the
distance, reaching an altitude oil
LOO feet. He appeared to be a
mere speck in the air, as the crowd
watched him speed over the hills
and away into the distance. Many
thought he crossed above the Man,
kato Junction, as he went in that
direction. From there he described
large circle and returned to the
fair grounds, went to the rear OF
the grand stand, and then flew in
semicircle and came straight down
near the right field of the ball
grounds, where his three assistants
took charge of the machine and
Ward alighted to be greeted by the
crowds again. He remained up in
the air about fourteen and half
minutes this time.
Raced With Automobile.
However, the third and last flight
Saturday, proved a most interesting
one, as he raced with Glenn Allyn,
who drove light car, stripped of
everything except the mere neces-
stiles for running the car. The body
was taken off and the seat only
remained. He started around the
half-mile track like streak OF
lightning with young man dangling
on board on the rear axel
Ward went high up in the air
once more, going toward the Min.
nesota river, an then returned and
caught up with Allyn near the grand
stand. Then began the race which
was to determine for that day at
least the supremacy in speed of the
motor on earth or the motor in the
free air. Allyn made the turns in
hurry, but Ward could not turn
as sharply and had to make larger
swings. He covered considerably
more territory, as he went to the
rear of the grandstand and further
out at the ends each time. Around
and around they raced, Allyn's car
resembling hound running after a
rabbit, while Wards airship looked
like huge eagle tapping it's wings
and. ready to drop on it's prey be-
meath. Allyn. would gain on the
turns, but Ward would catch up again
on the long stretches. Thus they
raced around six times, a supposed
distance of three miles and Ward
came out ahead. AS the race end
ed with Ward a good distance in
the lead, cheers again greeted him
One Old Man Not Interested.
But even this sensational racing
could not interest one old man, who
did not seem to apprehend the cause
of SO much shouting among the 9TH
er spectators. The fact is, he was
busy cutting grass with scythe
at one end of the fair grounds and
hardly raised his head as the airship
buzzed and droned above his head.
The automobile made the three miles
in six minutes and the airship re-
manned up in the Done about seven
minutes. Ward stated upon landing
that he averaged about a mile a
minute in the fights.
Big Crowd Yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon a still bigger
crowd saw the young birdman make
his flights. There were 1880 paid
He covered practically
the same route in his fights that he
did Saturday with a few variations.
He remained in the air about five
minutes the first time, going north
and then around the grand stand
and alighting near the baseball dia-
mond. After his first fight, he was
by his manager, Ed Blum,
and again cheered, as he modestly
nodded his head in recognition.
= The second time he went up, he
remained in the air about eight min
utes, going toward Eagle Lake. This
time he went farther from the fair
grounds than ever before, and just
before turning for the return, he was
a mere speck before the spectators.
That Ward has excellent control as
few other aviators have, is the be-
lief of all. He steared his machine
with obviously the utmost ease,
turned at unusually sharp angles and
leaned in as a motorcylist does in
turning a sharp curve. But what
drew forth the most applause was
the grace and ease with which he
lighted on the ground after his
fights. The highest point reached
was about 1900 feet
He again beat Mr.. Allyn in Sun
days race. Previous to his going
up, several automobiles went around
the race track again and again, pack
ing il down az Saturday piubt,s