Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-03
GOVERNOR FLIES
HIGH OVER: CITY
Accepts Invitation to Go Up in
Battleplane at State
Fair Grounds.
FINDS FLIGHT EXHlLARATlNG
Military Tournament Staged by
Lieutenant Carl Helm Is
Great Success.

Governor westmoreland Davis took
his first eight in the air yesterday
when he accepted an invitation 10 go
up in battle plant at the State Fair
Grounds. where a diversified military
and athletic program was staged by
the $50 West Virginians of the Rich
mond schools training detachment
For thirty minutes the Governor
scared with Lieutenant Bourware.
pilot from Langley Field. circiinE over
the city and the country rounda bout
at an altitude OF 1900 feet. His ap-
pearance in the plane before the crowd
OF 10000 people. in the srandstand and
around the drill field, created "A scnsa :
ton and thunderous applause followed.
AS the machine was leaving the
ground d few feet in the air, Governor
Davis waved 20 the crowd below and
the response was deafening. Thirty
minutes later, he landed safely. but as
the machine alighted the propeller
struck a stone. causing it to break.
HAD FEELING OF
INTENSE ExHILAnATIoN
1T gave me feeling OF intense cx-
hilara tion." said the Governor in de-
scribins his Hight afterward. at was
like horseback riding without the up
attends upon horseback riding. l en-
joycd 1t so we'll that was sorry when
ihe time came TO come down:
Il had view Of Richmond such as
portunity TO see. We reached a high
altitude, SO high that ! had only a
blurred s,I vision i, 30, of the ,,y city and James
panoramic view was splendid.
1t was impossible for me TO tell at
what speed was going. ] only know
n nf N NJ h ter ltF,or
OF the wind as tho plane cut through
the air. The whole experience was
novel and | enjoyed it,"
Is FIRST TO PLEDGE
PURCHASE or WAR STAMPS
Before his flight, the Governor was
the purchase Of $500 Of war savings
stamps in response TO an urgent ap-
purchases, the total amounting TO
riy $1,000 when the committee tab
ulated the pledges.
Grounds by the soldier mechanics were
little short OF marvellous when It is
taken into conside ration that they were
eight hours drill. as announced by As
sis.ant Manager r. W. Moon. of the
educational staff who directed the pro-
gram, The soldiers had been at the
school six weeks and seven hours of
each day were devoted to mechanical
training and three to drilling, other
\ full program that lasted from o:30
o'clock until was gone through ano
occasioned thrill after thrill TO the
great mass OF people that poured into
the grounds to witness it,
THREE AIRPLANES TAKE
PART IN DAYS PROGRAM
Two planes that arrived from Lang
ley Field at O'clock and witch flew
over the city directly along t.c path
of the gigantic Labor Day parade OF
the labor organizations and lombard
~ 1a ots.IG 1,AlN zu.st
the program al the Fair Grounds.
Their 2,,C,s executed s;,t dea,h,defSyinE nnG
ly. banking and nose diving. while the
aeT at ocock another sase
c!ane that had flown in series of
flights at the Labor Day celebration
appeared on the field for some repairs.
This machine was repaired BY the sol
which the Governor took his flight a
f-w minutes afterwards.
seEss Ess at m;arS so Rnf aeasf
iutant-GeneraI 10 Lane Stern; Major
mission on education OF the war De.
eeolonel Leroy II. Hodges occupied .hs
with the assembly there could be seen
many marines and bluejackets and
members of the army.
LIEUTENANT HELM PLANNED
AND DIRECTED THE EVENTS
All of the events. which were per-
tenant Carl Helm. OF Company B. were
sham ght between two battleplanes
was called off on account OF one Of
them being out of repair.
according TO the nature Of the enter
tainment that was. staged, When a
sham battle battle was vas being fought and SOL
pear without life or wounded mothers:
sisters and sweethearts TO many of
to sbss in the rasss tears that
surged from touched heart. When
the soldiers I were at pay c,os ooxng In
Pa tagging att at the G rope, racing. relay
crowd could not contain itself, and
Following Wing the first event. which wa,
an Introductory drill by the entire bat
TALON in company formation: came one
in the truck drill. Sixteen huge army
supply trucks drilled not loa unlike ,Iits in.
geratest ease in the execution OF or
dcrs and maintained exact distance
from, each other.
DAREDEyII.s ON MOTORCYCLES
FLASH AROUND THE TRACIl
Daredevils on motorcycles flashed
around the track in race after race. In
the first one, in the course of the
fourth lap around the mile track, one
Of the four riders met with n mis-
hap and fell from his machine: which
was going at rapid rate. He was
only slightly hnrt, IL was afterwards
ascertained, and later appeared on the
track and went again at the same mad
dcning pace.
The centipede race. probably. created
more amusement than any other single
event. This consisted OF four teams
| twenty-four men from each company
who straddled long. slender rods. Pro
ceednS as fast as they could, but
| awkwardly, the contestants managed
to reach one goal but in returning all
| four teams became disorSaniZed, some
Of the members falling and breaking
the rods. some getting away from their
| team. while others were seen running
| here and there to catch up. and all
presenting iaughable situation.
Governor Davis. his aids, Captain