East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-08-19
PendIeton Witnesses For First Time
demonstration Of Heavier Than
Air Machine.
LARGE CROWDS ATTEND
Birdman Scars Above Roundup Park
at Altitude of 1000 Feet-TOsses
Baseballs, But Players Fail to
Catch Them-AviatOr Is Given
Demonstration.


ton is. For years she had read ac-
counts of thrilling flights in heavier
than-air machines and had heard
stories of the marvellous feats per-
formed by daredevil birdmen. but il
was not until Walter Edwards circled
about the city Saturday and yester-
day afternoons in his Curtiss biplane
that the actual visual evidence of
mans emulation of the birds was pre-
sented to her. Thousands of people
saw what they had never seen before
then and their wonderment, express
ed by looks, words and actions, was
such that they will probably smile to
recall 1t in future years. when the un-
usual spectacle will have become a
commonplace sight.
Edwards fulfilled all promises made
by his manager and gave the specta-
tors full value for their money. Those
who did not pay to see him. he amply
rewarded for the long wait they had
on hillsides and for their tedious gaz-
ing into an empty sky. Both the
Saturday and Sunday flights We're en-
tirely successful, no hitch or accident
occurring to mar a perfect demonstra-
tion. Conditions were also ideal,
hardly breath of air stirring on
either day so that the aviator was not
deferred from exhibiting the various
abilities of his machine by unfavora-
bic air currents. His flight of Satur-
day lasted about eighteen minutes,
while yesterday he spent a full half
hour off the ground.
on both days he started from the
southeast turn on the track at the
park, headed the machine diagonally
across the field and arose into the
farther than half the distance to the
back stretch of the track. Heading
northwest he made 3 long circle over
the branch hospital grounds, return
ing high over the grandstand within
the space of few minutes.
Though he prefers flying high in
the air, Edwards never ascended be-
yond an altitude of thousand feet
during his two flights, choosing to
keep his little machine we'll within
view of the spectators that they might
better watch its workings.
He did not take any desperate
chances, for his flight was merely an
and he was not after eth
er record or reputation, but never
theless he proved himself a master of
the little craft in which he scared
above the city. Circling far above the
crowd like some giant eagle
its prey. swooping down
close to the ground and back again
INTO the air, darting with the speed
Of swallow, fitting first to one side
and then to another, rising and fall
ing with equal ease and grace, the
fragile little air craft was always re-
sponsive to every move of the mas
ter hand at the wheel.
Twice each day he dropped base
balls from his aerial seat and MEM
bers of the Pendleton and Boise ball
teams essayed to catch them, but they
travelled through the air with such
speed that the players could not get
under them at the proper time.
However, the balls were recovered
and kept for souvenirs. On Saturday
Edwards successfully executed the
right hand turn, "the trick which
gets them all his manager an
nounced.
n.s descent on both days was as
easy as his rise.\ Flying close to the
ground several times to get his exact
bearing, the birdman stopped his en-
gine when nearing his alighting place
and floated gracefully down the lit !
tie rubber tired wheels striking the
ground in such a manner that the
machine rebounded into the air once
or twice and then skinned lightly
along until the brakes We're applied.
No sooner had he touched the
ground than a mighty yell of applause
went up from the audience which had
watched his maneuvers and many
crowded out onto the field and sur
rounded the birdman and the man
made bird
More than fifteen hundred people
paid during the two days to see the
flights while every hillside and house
tops We're decorated with others out
to see the first aeroplane flight in
Pendleton. The local crowd was aug
umented by many who came from
other towns and from the country to
see the sight.
Edwards and Bennett, his manager,
returned to Portland this morning
and will spend the present week there,
having contracted to make daily
flights in connection with the racing
program there.