The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-23


 Aviation company the public in general and residents of Greater Birmingham in particular, in honor of Greater BirmiRg ham Day, were, given many thrills, despite an afternoon which dragged somewhat at first because of the treacherous air cur rents, which later on sucked Aviator Paul ! Peck down into their depths and brought him closer to the grim reaper death than at any other time in his career.
 Peck Only Aviator to Fly Director general of the hangars, Louis Mitchell early in the afternoon pro- nounced the final word upon the weather conditions and said that it would be mad hess to attempt flying because of the Strong cross and down currents
 Despite the warning sounded by Nit chell, however, and in truth against his own judgment, Aviator Paul Peck started up in his Columbia bplane. -The Gyro engine was working fine and he was att tempting the first incline over the infield, nearly opposite the grandstand, when the air hole opened up under him and his machine fell back from the base of an oncoming air wave. He went down for a distance of about 90 feet and landed upon the soft earth of the field, breaking a propeller in doing so.
 Peck's Wrestle with Grim Reaper The second attempted flight by Peck was later in the afternoon, just prior to the great 25 mile automobile race, and it was a nerve racking experience for the aviator and a great thrill for the crowd. Peck went up against all the warnings and advice of the other aviators and against his own judgment, as he had in the first flight. He made a good get away despite the strong ground currents of air which were sweeping across the surface of the infield like the blast from a furnace. He rose up to a height of about 30 feet and started off toward the grandstand, and then there began series of bucks and wobbes which sounded a preliminary warning to the crowd as to what was to follow. The biplane turned in semi-circles and wobbled up and down and from side to side, like a poor wound ed bird, and then was seen falling outside the fair grounds.
 There was much excitement Hundreds
 
 the hangars rushed pell nell across the infield in the direction of the spot where the popular aviator had vanished Crowds of people rushed out of the grandstand and from along the row of bleachers and went through the gate on a mad run. A woman cried out that Heck had fallen into the hothouses which were in field |outside the grounds. These hothouses are of glass roofing and sides and thrill of horror went through the veins of the onrushing people when they heard the cry and they pictured the aviator crushed and mangled amidst the broken glass and the ruins of his machine. Great relief was experienced, therefore. when the first few people, jumpingsa wide ditch of run ming water onto an open lot saw the bi- plane half up on end in soft earth and Aviator Peck standing with unconcerned expression gazing upon it.
 The injuries to the machine were light, and Mr. Peck experienced nothing worse than a slightly spraned arm and a gen eral shake up besides a case of nerves 1 for he admitted that he feares trag- edy when he found that he was falling. Joyce Wins Motorcycle Race l fair sized-crowd was in the grand stands and around the hangars when the main events of the afternoon commenced, after the automobile show had welcomed it's coterie of visitors. The delayed 25 mile motorcycle race for amateurs and owners of private stock machines was the first track event to be called. The entrants were Gail Joyce. Indian T. Dewberry Indian Leslie Watson, In- dian. Arthur Mitchell. Indian, and Porter Chambless. Reading Standard. Bob Stubbs lined the men up at the tape and explained to them the rules of the course. G. w. Staples acted as referee in the absence of w. D. Gresham of the Federation of American Motorcyclists. who could not be present. Timekesper