The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1913-12-07
Noted Military Aviator Win
Fly Next Friday and Sat
urday Afternoons,
LARGE CROWDS EXPECTED
Merchants are Making up Purse
to Defray Expenses, and all
Left Goes to Charity.

military aviator, who is now here
on a visit to this, the city of his
nativity. has decided, at the ur-
gent request of local friends, to
make two flights in Columbus.
These two asscensions will take
place at Washington Park next
Friday and Saturday afternoons.
and DR.. Bell states most emphat-
ically that they will be the most
daring and most sensational aero
nautical exhibitions ever seen in
this part of the country.
The merchants of Columbus
are raising fund to pay the ex.
penses of the exhibitions, and all !
money left over will be given to
the United Charities Association.
DR.. Bell has refused to accept pay |
for his services, and every penny
above the actual expenses of the
exhibition will be devoted to
charity.
DR.. Bell is not only an areanaut
of world wide reputation, but is
also a gifted racounteur, and
tells a thrilling story regarding
an ascension which he made at
RHEIMS, France, a little more than
two years ago. and thrice encir-
cled the dome of the famous ca
thedral at that place.
On account of the topography
of the country surrounding the
cathedral. a flight in the immedi-
ate vicinity is exceedingly diff
cult, and, realizing this fact, the
Prince of Minocco, who is the
ruler of the principality in which
RHEIMS is located. offered a purse
of $1,000 to any air-man who
would successfully accomplish
the feat. More than a dozen
French aviators had attempted to
win the prize, but met with ig-
nominious failure. One day a
little more than two years ago
DR.. Bell found him self in RHEIMS
with only two francs in his pock-
ct, and decided to attempt the
flight. He had two very strong
incentives, one an urgent need
for money, and the other a lauda-
bic desire for fame. his reputa-
tion as an aviator up to that time
not having risen above mediocri.
ty.
Rubbing his two pieces of sill
yer together in his pocket, and
thinking of the fame and fortune
that lay almost within mis- grasp,
DR.. Bell went to the official having
in charge the awarding of the
prize and asked for permission to
attempt the flight. The official
granted DR.. Bell the desired per-
mission, but at the same time |
warned him of the dangers that |
would be encountered. He SEEM
ed to think that if a dozen expe.
rienced French air-men had at
tempted the flight and failed that !
It was the heighth of folly for an
adventurous American to make |
the attempt. He was disposed /
to look upon the whole proceed |
ing in a sneering and contemptu- !
Gus manner, but this only served /
to arouse DIR. Bells patriotism
and pride and to make him more
determined than ever to win.
The Counties D'Levere, a men,
ber of the royal family, learned
that an American was to compete
for the prize, and, having secur-
ed an introduction to DR.. Bell,
seemed 10 axe IA fancy to him.
She made Two small American
flags. which she way,d at Dr..
Bell while in the aii. aud the avi-
ator says that the sight Of these
two goEialons bearing ,he stars
and str pc of his native country
gave him he c1uraya AID daring
OF "A super.man. After a
flight, during which he en-
circled the dome of the cathedral
three times. he made a successful