Norwich bulletin., 1920-09-08
STUNTS IN THE AIR THRILL CROWD
 ON SECOND DAY OF COUNTY FAIR

The most thrilling aeroplane exhibition ever seen in Norwich was that given py Lieut. Mark Hogue, an eX-army ot1lcer, who served overseas with Uncle Sans army during the world war, and Prof. Harold D. Gates, the daring balloonlst, just after Prof. Gates had made double parachute drop from the balloon at the county fair late Tuesday afternoon.
 It was without exception the most dar- ing feat ever attempted at the Norwich fair grounds. Prof. Gates parachute drop from the top of the plane and Lieut.. Hogue's startling nose dives fearful glides from dizzy heights and numerous other hair-raising stunts high in the heavens will long finger in the minds Of the thousands that eagerly, almost fear fully, watched the plane as it sped with lightning speed back ard forth across the fair grounds.
 About 520 o'clock the big balloon ma jestically arose from it's r1oorings in the race track infield carrying its lone pas senger, Prof. Gates, hundreds of feet into the air. Borne by the breeze, it took a northeasterly course and when about 1,5o0 feet above terra flrma Prof. Gates cut loose Had the balloon gone higher it would have been possible for the balloonist to make his triple parachute drop, but as it was he made only two drops.
 Prof. Gates landed near the fair grounds and a waiting automobile picked him up and sped back to the grounds and then on 10 the open lot to the southwest of the fair grounds, where the aeroplane ard it's pilot, Lieut. Hogue, were waiting. Gates Drops from Top of Plane. Loading his parachute on the plane, at Hogue and few minutes later they were circling above the fair grounds. Af- ter circling several times, Prof. Gates, at | tached to the parachute, climbed from his seat and gained the top of the plane And then a minute of two later, Lieut. | Hogue tipped the plane sideways and Prof. Gates dropped with sickening speed which was almost immediately arrested by the open parachute. Prof. Gates land cd ina tree just outside the fair grounds and quite near the main gate. He slid down from the tree to the ground, 30 feet below, escaping with only slightly injured hand.
 In the meantime Lieut. Hogue was the center of attraction for the big crowC that remained at the grounds after the races for the exhibition.
 Hogue Shuts of Engine.
 Rising to a height of hundreds of feet the daring aviator suddenly shut off the engine and the plane then went through l ali kinds of circles and spins as it rap idly dropped towards the earth. It look ed as if Lieut. Hogue had made his las flight but just as suddenly as the ma chine had started on its downward courst it strengthened out, nose pointing to the sky. and was off once more into tht heavens.
 Lieut. Hogue made several thrilling
 drops, riding at one time barely 50 fee above the ground. Headed directly to
 ward the ropes and guy lines that holc
 the balloon in place, he waved his hant
 to "Scotty," Prof Gates assistant. "Lool
 out for the wires Hell hit the ropes.
 and other startled cries went Up from tn
 crowd. but Lieut.. HoCue knew what h
 was doing, for just as it looked as if tn
 plane was doomed it suddenly turned it
 nose skyward and went sailing majestic
 ally towards the clouds
 Lieut. Horue made a special trip fror
 Springfield, Mass, Tuesday afternoon i , order that Prof Gates might made hi
 extra parachute drop. The aviator mad
 the trip from Springfield in about 4 minutes time, arriving over the fai , grounds about half an hour before tn
 balloon ascension. He is in the arm
 officers reserve.
 The crowd at the fair Tuesday wa f estimated at 1000. This makes yer
 nearly an attendance of 25, 5000 peop f for the two days of the fair, and today , crowd will without doubt send the tot: : attendance well over the 25,O00 mark 9 Horse Racing. It was a few minutes past six o'cloc . before the final heat of the last race the afternoon was run off. It was = special trot or pace for a purse of $2C and went four heats, Torment Pete . Agan, owned by MT. MitcaeH of Mon r vile, taking first mor b second mono s going to Silk Leader, owned by o. f Steadman of Lafayatte, R. I. X Reward NJ. Stumbled and Fell : It was in this race that the only mi : hap of the day occurred. While on tf z way back from the north turn to maI l. a fresh start in the second heat, R,
 ward NJ. owned by George Hodge of tn
 city stumbled and fell near tue grant :, stand. throwing the driver off the sea Il Fortunai ely the dnly Almage was T broken check rein and the horse contin, ! II ed in the race after it had been gotte '' back on it's feet and harnessed IT
 fall delayed the race only two or thrt '- minutes