The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-19
Av|AT0R'S VENTURE
PUTS HIM IN AIR
CHARLES GRAY THINKS-rrAT
s7a GATE rs ENOUGH TO
MAKE ANYONE SOAR.
HE TELLS ABOUT 1T
CANE TO RICHMOND ON AssUR-
ANCE OF THOUSAND Dol
LARS AND CANNOT PAY
HOTEL BILL.

guished airman. is Of the opinion that
Richmond does not appreciate the
| fine art of flying,
Twice / have flown over the city,
said Captain Gray when seen at the
I Lexington hotel last night; II have
given an exhibition Of flying that has
| never chen surpassed, and yet I have
7 not made enough to meet my hotel
/, bin"
\ This was after Captain Gray had
! told Of his two fights from the State
Fair grounds yesterday afternoon. He
had not been enthusiastic over these
! flights. The weather conditions had
! been bad, he declared; there had been
n battling breeze of about fifteen miles
an hour. and the breeze was such
az to leave plenty OF airholes in the
atmosphere empty pockets or spaces
I between gentle little gusts, very try
( ing to a skyman and his airship.
! Worst Of all. there had been only
! $40 taken in at the gate, which was
enough 10 discourage any aviator who
generally gets a thousand dollars for
a flight, or little matter OF two hun
dred iron men for taking a little trip
Of two miles.
only $40 at the Gate.
And here was Captain Charles Gray,
who had twice flown over Richmond.
to and from Petersburg. who had
given a wonderful exhibition of high
airmanship. WHO had been acclaimed
John Moisant, Glenn Curtiss, Harry
Atwood. or Wilbur Wright himself
playing to a $40 gate Small won-
der he declared it was a disgrace to
aviation
Il came here under the impression
that ! would get a thousand dollars
for my exhibition" went on Captain
/ Gray. The Richmond Aeroplane
/ company sent me a wire to that eff
/ feet, and ] took it for granted that
! the Richmond Aeroplane company
/ knew. l did not demand guaran-
4 tee or insist that the money be de-
( posted, simply accepted the state
ment that ] could get the thousand.
( 1T appears that there has been
mismanagement or a misunderstand-
/ ing. or both. All | know is that s79
was taken in at the State Fair
( grounds, that | owe $50 for the use
of the grounds. that l owe my mocha
nicfan and other employees, and my
hotel bill of $40 is yet to be paid.
Wants to Raise Money.
Perhaps someone here in Rich
mond can figure out how I can get
enough money to meet expenses.
am willing to carry message to the
president in Washington. / am will
ing to act as special courier for the
educational associations which are
holding meetings here. I might car
~ an air message of how the Old
Dominion is advancing along educa-
tional lines ! might carry a message
from the chamber of commerce here
to the chamber of commerce In Wash
ington. ] only suggest these things.
Perhaps someone can figure out a
way whereby ! can realize at least a
couple of hundred dollars. I have
done my best. l trust that my visit
here will not be losing venture, any
way"
If Captain Gray can be persuade ed
to carry letter from the Richmond
chamber of commerce to the Wash
ington chamber of commerce Civ
ing the personal and pertinent views
of the members of the chamber who
are members of the Richmond Wash
tngton Highway association on the
attitude of the Washington chamber
on the highway in question, he might
dispose of that letter for much more
than 5000, If only to keep it from
publication in Washington
Tells of Flight To-day.
Late last night this communication
was received
Richmond, Va. April 1S, 1918.
The Richmond Virginian, City:
Gentlemen,-Mr w B. Bradley, of
the baseball club. requests that you
announce in your paper tomorrow that
Aviator George A. Gray will be seen
over and above the baseball park and
is to land in same. This flight to take
place just before the ball game COM
menCes
Kindly give this as much publicity
as possible and oblige,
Yours very truly.
RICHMOND AEROPLANE AND Elk
HIBITION CORPORATION
j. e. GRASS. JR..
President