Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-30
UNCLE SANS BIRD
MEN GIVE OTTAWA
A FLYING CIRCUS
THREE OFFICERS IN TWO MA.
CHIMES COME TO ClTY-PER-
FORMED THRILLING AERIAL
ANTICS WITH LOCAL PEOPLE
AS PASSENGERS.

Ottawa, instead Of losing out en-
titely on its flying circus promised by
brdmcn from Chanute field at Ran
tJni ecci.ed extra measure yosser
day dad today, when two machines.
"Chanute" ana "Rantom." oficered by
three men. gave the city every thrill
known to ground observation while
tiiers high in the skies performed
aerial antics.
The planes, under command of Capt
howard b. Oursler, with Lieut.. J. W.
WEIGH and r. l.. Folke as pilots. an
peared over Ottawa shortly after an
nouncement had been made the fiers
who started for here went amiss be-
fore reaching their destination. one
dove into a smash-up at Morris and
the other became lost somewhere in
Illinois. At 80 O'Clock the town
was startled into activity by the
buz-z-l-z-z of aero motors and word
was passed the government aviators
were making good ON their promise to
ny here Nocks We're craned upward
and the 'RantOul," flying at an alti-
'ude Of 5000 feet while The Cha
mute SCARED below it, hove over the
city crclcd for a while. and then
alighted on King field, where hun
dreds upon hundreds greeted the Off
GERS
Capt Ouralgr, a right good sport.
and his two assistants were deter
mined 70 make up to Ottawa for the
disappointment Of earlier in the after
noon After giving an exhibition of
flying Lieut. Welch was in.I
to make an exhibition flight .
He took Mrs. Lucille Irion Ryan with
him as a passenger Mrs Ryan en-
joys the distinction of being the first
and only Ottawa woman to fly from
IN Ottawa field While the crowds /.
with astonishment Lieut. +
Welch and Mrs Ryan looped the loop. .
made the zimmerman spin, nose dove
and tailed spun Mrs Ryan, after
ilighting from the machine, expressed .
herself as delighted with her eXpe- .
jeucc, and looked the part.
After Lieut. Welch completed his
Exhibition, Capt. Oursler announced F
the machines and aviators would ret
main IN Ottawa all night for more
Nights this morning. At $50 o'clocR .
hree rrips over the city were made .
With Harley V. Petit, president of
he local Red Cross chapter; Harry /
H. Costello. a reporter, and Buf0rd .
Foster. a recruit enlisted here for the !
eryice The flights were all of about
fifteen minutes duration and gave to
he novices all the thrills which
ew years ago made Lincoln Beachey
md other prioueer tliers famous. All
IF them agreed they would do the
'ame thing over again if given the
amc chance,
At l1:10 o'clock the machines put
Ioft and headed for Rantoul, where
hey expected to be on hand for din
Ter at l2:3D. The 'Rantoul," a Curtis
). G. S4j. has a speed of ninety miles
IN hour. while the "Chanu.e, a Curtis
J. c. 4l5. can do sixty miles an hour
without effort Before leaving Ottawa
'apt Oursler and Lieut.. Folke bonn
,arded the city with Liberty Loan
literature.
After finishing the Illinois campaign
or recruits the machines will 90 into
indiana on a TWO weeks drive for en-
is.ments. The trip here nctted three
Of local young men who
lesire to enter this branch Of the
ervice
The machines came from Streator
nd Pontiac, where they gave eXhibi-
ions yesterday morning and after
loon, When Capt. Oursler was nOti-
led of the accidents which promised
o disappoint OttaWans he ordered his
lilO1s to head here and put on the
When they landed, as
he captain said they liked the city
o well they decided to spend the
light here
A guard of High School Cadets
TODD vigil over the two planes from
o'clock until TO- and then turned
hem over to members of the police
nroa fC o1nrd