Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-29
FIRST GOVT. AEROPLAE
MAKES VISIT AT WIl1MAR
Ties Up at Foot Lake for Tonight,
To Leave at Nine In Morning.

The first aeroplane to arrive In WILL
mar via the air route made its appear
ance today, landing on Foot Lake,
about 4:3O this afternoon.
This morning word was received
from Minneapolis by the Handy-Lewis
garage that an Appleton party would
be coming by aeroplane thru Willmar
this afternoon on their way to Apple
ton and requested that q supply Of
gasoline be in waiting for them on
Foot Lake at 1:30 o'clock, as they
intended to make landing on the ice.
The news was soon spread about town
and all afternoon everybody kept an
eye on the eastern horison to get a
first glimpse of the bird. It was even
said that there were a number of va.
cant seats in school, the anticipation
of seeing an aeroplane in flight being
quite too much Of a temptation for
some Of our Young Americans.
It was five o'clock, however, before
the bird men made their appearance.
The machine made a hne appear.
ance as it lowered high over the city
before making the descent on the
lake. The roar of the motors and pro-
pellers were heard all over the city.
It did not take long before the lake
was covered with people to see the
unusual visitor. The machine made
a swing around the bay over the
crowd but lighted in the narrows east
of Robbins island.
The machine was taken to the bank
near the Willmar Seminary and was
anchored and tied up for the night.
The pilot Of the machine is E. w.
McElligot and the machinist is r. c.
Halling, both Of Appleton, and are
young flyers who have recently been
discharged from the aviation training
school at Hamline. The machine is
one of the many planes used for train
ing purposes and was recently bought
by the Appleton Aero club from the
government, the war department hav.
ing sold a number of them at auction.
The aviators had had some engine
trouble at Howard Lake which &C.
counted for their late arrival. It was
near sundown when they came to Will.
mar and they decided to stay over
until tomorrow morning, when they
will leave for Appleton at 9 o'clock.
There was considerable water on the
ice and many ''boy'' came home to
supper with his feet wet.
Charley Baker was there on his
pony and, probably watching the do
ings in the air more than the ice, rode
into an air hole and considerable ex-
citment prevailed before the pony was
rescued from the water, apparently
none the worse of for its chilly bath:
The following information from the
Appleton Press will explain the ap-
pearance of the aeroplane at this time:
"A standard government aeroplane,
purchased from the government by the
Appleton Aero club, is expected to ar.
rive in Appleton this morning, accord.
ing to a statement made yesterday by
A. J. kaufman, president of the club.
Edmund McElligott, of this city, re-
Gently released from the naval avia.
tion service. will pilot the plane and
Reuben Halling will accompany him
as mechanic and they expect to make
the trip from Minneapolis to Appleton
in 81 minutes according to Mr.. Kauf-
man.
The Aero Club was organized for
the purpose of purchasing one of the
government planes offered for sale at
the dismantling of the Overland Avia-
tion school, at st. Paul and to bring
It here for entertainment purposes at
local events and to offer it as an at.
traction. The club is composed of
about 20 local business men, with A.
J. Kaufman, president; P. w. Hunter.
vice-president and E. G. Schoening.
secretary and treasurer.
McElligott and Halling have been
assembling the plane, overhauling 1t
and trying it out during the week to
insure that it will be in proper condi.
tion for the fight here, Mr.. Kaufman
says, and unless something now un'
foreseen prevents they will leave Min
neapolis this morning. Another plane
purchased by some Iowa parties will
accompany the Appleton plane here
and go on with its trip to its destina,
ton.
Miss Myrtle Harrison entertained
a few of her friends at the H. N. Han.
son home last Wednesday evening.
The evening was spent very enjoyably
In playing 'rook" after which q dainty
luncheon was serVed