The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1918-03-09
THE B|RD-MAN'S VISIT.


whirr of the propeller of an air
plane announced the arrival Of ii
flying machine from the aviation
camp near Lake Charles. Thou
sands hurried from their homes
and Offices to watch the graceful
maneuvers of the air craft. while
it's pilot was seeking a promisi &
landing place. After circliDg over
the town the machine settled 10
he sOuth of the town in Mr.. j. &.
Bloussard's pasture, out on Peeb
les Coulee road. Buggies, autos
and every conceivable style of
road vehicle was soon to be seen
headed for the landing place.
Many went foot for long walk
The aeronaut had with him, oc
cupying the second seat of the
machine, Mr.. Dracos Dimitry of
Lake Charles, the son of our Mr..
ID. A. Dlmitry, the agent of the
Southern Pacific Railroad at this
point. The pilot and his fellow
passenger, soon after the laDdlr &
was effected, were taken to town
by Mr.. Tony Renoudet in his auto
mobile. AS this automobile was
speeding towards town Mr.. and
Mrs. u. A Dimitry, accompanied
by their daughter. Mrs. Donald
Burke, passed them on the road,
on their way to the landing place,
the members of either party fail
ing to distinguish any of the mem
bers of the other. After learning
that the flyers would spend the
night here, they returned to their
home to meet their guests.
1t was noticed that the flying.
machine circled around IN the up
per atmosphere quite a bit before
coming to the ground. 1t proved
that the pilot was looking for
some feature by which he might
diftlnguish the agreed upon land
ing place. A large cross had been
erected at the point where the
landing had been planned, but in
stead of painting it white, white
wash had been used, and this the
rains had so nearly washed off
that the pilot was unable to dis
tinguish the signal.
The place in Mr.. Broussard's
pasture for his dairy cattle proved
a most excellent one, but for its
distance from town for all those
who attempted the trip foot.
1t was a considerable area of vir
gin land which has never known
the plOw and was remarkably free
Of holes or obstructlons of any
character. The cattle had kept
the long grass clipped close
enough not to hide any pitfall
There were two or three trees
scattered about the pasture, hut
their positions were such as to add
but little to the risk of the pilot.
Mr.. Euzebe Gonsoulin, accom-
panied by his charming daughter,
Miss Leila, came to town that day
from their country home in the
Fausse Pointe section, in their
large and comfortable new Over
land automobile. The opportunity
of visiting the landing place of a
ying.machine came as an I'm
promptu pleasure. An Invitation
to accompany them came as a
double pleasure to the Iberian
"pllot''-lrst, III being unexpected,
and then the opportunity of such
good company. On our way out
Mr.. Lastie Bernard was made q
member OF our auto party. Miss
Gonsoulin handed the steering
wheel with deftness that marked
her grace aud ability for the task
entrusted to. her.
On Wednesday forenoon the fly
ers left US OH their return trip for
the aviation camp III Calcasieu
parish.
Wednesday evening the news
came from the flyers hat, because
of q poor grade of gasoline, they
we're unable TO pursue their j 'urD
ey through to the end, but had to
break their flight and land III or
der to pr ocure fresh supply OF
gasoline. Otherwise the returE
trip was made without untowarG
incident. The gasoline they used
on their return trip was procured
| at this end Of their round trip and
is supposed to have lost the major
part OF its richness 10y evapora