The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-18
Aviator Ward Rises Into the Air Until Almost Out
 of Sight
AIR VERY DANGEROUS
 ACCOUNT OF WINDS
Brindley Performed Dangerous Dips. Automobile Show Is Marvellous Exhibit-Great Events Are
 Planned for Today
By WALTER HENRY

Aviation Special Writer for The Age l Herald.
 With the band playing patriotic and
 inspiring music. with decorations making
 beautiful the automobile exposition hall,
 with over 5000 people scattered through
 out the grandstand the hangers and the
 grounds in general. the great aviation
 meet-automohile show and races under
 the auspices of the Business Mems league
 and under the direction Of the Berger
 Aviation company. opened yesterday aft
 ernoon. after three days of waiting, un-
 der most favorable augury.
 There were in the air at one time Avia-
 tor Jimmy Ward, in Curtiss biplane; Oscar Brindley. Wright biplane; Paul
 Peck. Columbia biplane; L. W. Bonney,
 Wright biplane; Eugene Heth. Wright blplane. The spectacle they presented to the public was an inspiring one The
 mechanical birds gracefully performed high in the heavens over Jones valley and each aviator was given generous ap- plause when he alighted.
 To specify which aviator did the best work would be unjust. for each aviator in various big meets does different things and each of them are of note and worthy of careful study. Yesterday undoubtedly Jimmy Ward, the classy Chicago boy.
 flew the highest and went farther from the track than any other aviator He rose into the air until he appeared to be only q small speck 1t being announced that he reached an attitude of over 1000 feet no doubt Oscar Brindley will receive credit for doing the most dangerous dips and turns near the ground and also in the air. The crowd
 watched his spiral climbs and quick sharp turns with bated breath L. w. Bonney did great work in his Wright bi- plane, going far out of the grounds and making getaways and landing with great skill. His work in the air was applauded by the crowd inside the hangar. Paul Peck, in his Columbia biplane was praised oy the crowd, 1t being known that he was very weak from a recent surgical | operation. In aerial evolations he showed his usual skill and courage. Many times did the crowd think he was about to fall Eugene Heth. in his Wright biplane did some great flying late in the afternoon. and came near being lost in the woods. which fringe the outskirts of the fair grounds. He had difficulty in climbing up and did so only after quite a struggle with the clements
 Wind Blowing Fifty Miles an Hour The conditions in the air were very bad and It was due only to the courage of the Berger aviators that there was any flying at all. Each and every ayis- tor went up against his own good tudp- ment. The sensation of the afternoon was the accident which befell Aviator | Eugene Heth In his Wright biplane when he was carrying as passenger Capt. Charles H. Mandy of The Age-Herald editorial staff.
 Heth is an expert engine hand and | skilled aviator When he and Captain Mandy left the hangar every condition looked favorable for high and a long l night, 1t being Heth's intention to take the newspaper man over the city of Bir- mingham and through the suburbs in Jones valley. The getaway was excellent and the aeroplane rose gracefully to meet the first inclines. The flight was an nounced from the grandstand, and the | crowd was eagerly watching Then. when they were scarcely 50 feet from the ground, still in the most dangerous lati- tude, Heth encountered an air hole He | Was quick to recognize 1t and tried to | rise over 1t and make the next incline Of air current, but he was unable to do so. Captain Mandy, cigar in mouth. was | still smiling, little realizing how near l death he was But Heth knew. He felt aerophobia, which is the ayiators' name Tor fear of death, creeping into his heart | He turned cold, the aeroplane fell like a plummet into the soft mud of the in- 1 field, fortunately without turning over or upon one end. The two men got out none the worse for their experience. but 1 if the aeroplane had turned over, the chances are that they would have been | killed. The largest percentage of fatali- | ties in aviation occur within 50 feet of the ground and many of them from just such incidents which confronted Heth and Mandy yesterday.
 Captain Mandy is to make another l flight he says, for he is not discoura ged l The flights by the News representative, Dan N Rubin, and the Ledger represen- tstlve, Oscar Hunt, are scheduled for to- day
 Great Aerial Work
 | While all of the Berger avat tors were not In the air at one time during the aft einoon, yet the work done by the men that were was more than satisfying to the crowds. There was not heard dis | is indeed remarkable
 Aviator schneider's motor got cranky l In the early part of the afternoon and l he could not fly. Louis Mitchell acted as master of ceremonies and so did not pa l ticipate. wire was received from George Mestach from New Orleans stating that | the recent accident to his Borel mono- plane at Baton Rouge was more serious and detained him longer than he at first l thought and that he could not get here | before Friday.
 | The work of the aviators was great in every way. and each man easily sustained l his reputation yesterday afternoon while doing different things in the air. They | give promise of sensational work through out the remainder of the week.
 | If the track dries up there are to be premier automobile and motorcycle Q races this afternoon. They will com | prise the postponed programme with which readers are already familiar.
 This afternoon will he recorI- breaker in every way and also tine aft- ernoon following. Then comes 'chil-