The Sentinel=record., 1912-03-12
ALL READY
FOR FLIGHTS
TODAY is THE BIG DAY OF THE
OPENING or THE BIRDMEN,s
MEET AT oAkLAWN.
Three Sensational Flyers Now in the
Clty-others Due Soon-New
Thrills Promised by the Pro-
gram Committee.
List to the weather man!
Thrillsl Thrills! Thrills!

Thrillsl Thrillsl Thrillsl
Sensations end more sensations!
With the arrival of Aviators James
J. Ward, Nels ]. Nelson and Keane K
Keane, the program committee of the
aviation meet finds itself in the very
enyiable position of finding it neces-
sary to enlarge end increase the fly
ing program at the international avia-
ton meet which opens at Oaklawn
park this afternoon at o'clock.
Differing in extreme from most sit
uations of the kind, the promoters of
the meet instead of being compelled
to curtail the program, finds that it
will be necessary to add a number
of interesting attractions, some of
them offered to the public for the
first time.
For instance, Postmaster Johnson
will establish a sub post-office at the
aviation field, and mail will be car
ried by the aviators by the aerial
route. A special government stamp,
bearing the words, Aerial Mail
Route" and receiving office, as
we'll as a stamp office, viii be in
stalled at the aviation field for the
use of patrons. Patrons of the meet
may mail letters at the aviation post
station and they will be stamped
with the Aerial" stamp for trans
mission to any part of the country.
The pouch win be made up at the sta
tion and one that win be welcomed
trips with the pouch. This will af-
ford spectators the unique opportu-
nifty of sending letter mail to their
friends by the "Aerial Route" a
privilege which is a decided innoya-
tion and one that Will bel welcomed
by the recipient of the letters so
mailed.
Manager Quinn has arranged with
the managers of the big league base
ball clubs now in the city. for a trial
of catching a baseball dropped from
a dizzy height by the. aviators. Three
major league catchers, one from each
club, will make the trial The OBJ
ject will be to beat Catcher Streets
feat of catching a baseball dropped
from the top of the Washington mon
ument Balls will be dropped on one
day of the meet. TO be announced
later. from heights ranging from 500
to 900 feet, and the wearers Of the
big mitts will endeavor to catch them.
Still another brand new feature will
be sharpshooting from aeroplanes by
the ayiators. The aviators will carry
rifles and revolvers aloft with them
and will shoot at marks on the
ground. This practice is encouraged
by the war department and the re-
suit of the trials will be forwarded
to Washington. The sharpshooting
feat will be staged only on clear days,
and will be duly announced by the
announcer on the field.
Keane X. Keene, son of the noted
tragedian, Thomas Keane, an ayia-
tor, who has made an enviable repu-
tarion, and who is known as the
Dixie Flyer" will arrive in the city
during this morning He flies Cur
tiss-Farmasa bi-plane, 60-horse power
and is one of the most daring and
dependable flyers in the business. He
Is particularly popular throughout the
south, where he has made many sue
cessful flights.
Ward and Nelson took time yester-
day afternoon to go on. to Oaklawn
and try out their machines and the
flying conditions at Oaklawn. They
are highly pleased with their trials.
Yesterday afternoon meeting OF
the aviators, their managers and the
judges was held at the Eastman ho-
tel for the purpose of putting the fin
shing touches on the program, to
get acq tainted with eadh other, and
generally talk over the coming meet,
for more perfect understanding Of
all conditions of the meet and to pre-
vent misunderstanding during the
progress of the program.
G. r. Mills, head OF the Mills Aero
plane Manufacturing company, OF
Chicago. is in the city for the pur-
pose of viewing the flights each day
snd making use of the knowledge
gained. The Mills company is now