The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1919-03-28
A|RPLANES CROSS
SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAINS

Last Saturday morning at 10 o'clock
word was telephoned to Minden and
6ardnerville from Carson that three
lairplanes had left Mather field near
Sacramento to attempt the supposed
| Impossible feat of crossing the Sier-
ra Nevada mountains. A few minutes
lafter that news had been received
here. word was flashed from Genoa
that three planes were passing over
that town. The hum of the powerful
Liberty motors could be distinctly
heard in Gardnerville. but like tiny
birds IN the sky. the planes could
not be seen from this point.
Within few moments hundreds of
Carson Valley people were speeding
to Carson in automobiles to get
glimpse of the mechanical birds and
see them depart for Reno.
The three big De Haviland planes
landed on the field at Carson. the
historic event being witnessed by
thousands of people. The pilots of
these Ia hourse power machines an
nonnced that small 80 h. D. Curtiss
plane had left the Mather field but be-
cause of the lightness of the machine.
had undoubtedly failed to reach the
thigh altitude necessary to cross the
s,erras. Then out of the clouds
came the hum of the motor of the
fourth machine. The plane crcled
over Carson. and the pilot did side
1 ulinN 10 an. hx,t h.
and everybody cheered the daring
birdman. After landing the pilot
was congratulated for his air-stunt
THAT was no stunt" remarked Lieu
tenant Hagget that was the greatest
| thrill that have experienced since
taking up aviation. shut OFF the
motor to glide TO earth and the next
thing knew was falling. Starting
the motor. | easily regained control
OF the machine. but that falling stun
was a thrill for me-
| The intrepid and daring little
pilot WAS the hero of the hour, and
while the people gave great credit 10
the pilots of the big De Havilan
Iplanes for being the first to cross the
Sierra Nevada mountains. yet the
Admiration OF the vast crowd went 10
the pilot of the baby machine.
between the time that the machines
landed In Carson and the hour of their
| departure for Reno. the crowd gave
the plances critical examination and
| to break the monotony of the long
wait two Carson lads reminded those
on the flying field that spring was
J here by engaging In spirited fist
/ light. Then the Standard OIL truck,
loaded with honest to goodness gaso-
line. got stuck in a ditch. and was
pulled from the 'mire by locomotive of
the V q T.
In the meantime the aviators were
entertained by Governor Boyle at a
luncheon. Returning to the field
lthey filled the tanks with that honest
to goodness gasoline. started their
motors and were ready to take TO the
| air for Reno Hundreds of people
gathered at the rear of one of the
machine. believing II the safest place
when the pilot opened up the throt-
tie spinning the propeller at speed
OF 100 revolutions per minutes, hats
began TO aviate while women in the
crowd fought frantically to keep from
displaying more of their ankles than
shcrt skirts are supposed TO conceal.
The birdmen scared off into space
like great eagles and soon were mere
specks against bank of amber
clouds IN the northern sky. On the
clouds were left a black mark. prob
ably from the exhaust of the engines
or the expelled lubricating oil. giving
faint trace of the vanishing mechan-
ical birds.
On their return to Carson from
Reno Sunday afternoon, the Curtiss
plane was forced to land in rough