New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-22
Police Games
Thrill $4,000
AT Cravesend
Miss Bromwell Loops the
Loop in Air, Army Planes
Practice Battle Tactics.
Daredevils Do Stunts
Crowds ndaunted byRain
Opera Star, Clowns and
Athletics of All Kinds
Lure Gate of $3O5, 900

GTavesend BAY racetrack yesterday saw
every thrill that the realm Of sports
can give, during the first day Of the
annual police games. Every inch Of
space in the long. rambling grandstand
was crowded, and the huge field was
packed with thousands of others, who
remained throughout, undaunted by
the persistent drizzly rain.
They saw the daring feats of airmen
who performed hai--raising stunts
right in front of the stand. They saw
thrilling horseraces. mimic battles,
fstic combats and races. The first day
was huge success, and not single
serious mishap marred the excellent
program provided, although there were
a number of minor accidents.
BY far and away the outstanding
feature was the aerial exhibits of the
army airplanes and the stunt flying of
Miss Laura Bromwell, the girl pilot of
Cincinnati. Allan Law, a member of
the famous family of daredevils, pro-
vded the super-thrill by jumping from
an airplane in full flight and descend
ing in a parachute.
Even Hylan UnDenQS
Mayor Hylan, in whose honor the
first day of the annual sports had been
named, was 80 overcome with the re-
markable enthusiasm of the vast crowd
that he consented to be interviewed by
newspaper men. lie said:
This is the greatest show on earth.
These games emphasize the fact that
at least $4,000 of the people are suf
ficiently interested in their police de
partment to come out here in the rair
and watch New York's finest at play
Not to be outdone by the Mayor
Police Commissioner Enright also wavec
his lard and fast rule, and took the
newspaper men into his confidence. He
said:
"This is the largest crowd that ever
turned out for an event OF this kind.
There has been SON criticism about
the policemen selling tickets for the
games, but it is one of those things
that cannot be helped.
eve have already taken in S305,000,
which has been deposited in the bank
for the benefit fund. In all probability
last Years record of S318,000 will be
surpassed by next Saturday.
Commissioner Enright said he hoped
to be in position soon to begin the
construction of sanitarium, which
will take care of the fifty members of
the department afflicted with tuter-
culosis, as we'll as the fifty others now
convalescing from injuries sustained
while in the performance Of their
duties.
Mayor Favors Common People
The Mayor and his party joined the
people in witnessing the games from
an improvised grandstand. In fact,
the solicitation of Hizzoner for the
people almost led to a tragedy. Upon
the stand with the Mayor were 6, num-
her Of distinguished guests, including
for the Americas Cup; Rear Admiral
James H. Glennon, Major General
Robert Lee Billiard, Frederick A. Wal
lis, Commits sioner of immigration, and
a host of city and state officials
Miss Clara P White, of 344 West
Seventy-second Street, also came with
half a dozen badly wounded soldiers
boys were tenderly assisted to chairs
on the erandstand by the guests, task
in which Sir Thomas Upton took a
prominent part.
Then, when all were seated, the
Mayor allowed members Of the general
public to come upon the stand. The
weight became too great for the stand
to bear and it gently collapsed in the
middle. Among those precipitated to
the ground was Fire Commissioner
brennan, but no one was hurt.
While this was occurring a squadron
of army airplanes, consisting of five
DH-4 biplanes and captured German
Fokker, Unanswered over the stand in
formation. They quickly broke up
their order and then engaged in battle
tactics, to the delight of the crowd.
Then they began series of breath
taking stunts. The Fokker went into
a spinning nose dive right in front Of
the stand and then came out of it peril
ously close to the ground. A tremend-
Gus sigh of relief burst from the as
sembled throng, but the aviator merely
waved his arm to the crowd as though
in mock derision of their fears.
Gets His Fill of Flying
Miss Bromwell took Police Inspector
John Dryer up with her and gave him
the thrill of his life. The low-lying
clouds and drizzly weather prevented
record of eighty-seven consecutive
loops; but, nevertheless, she did suffi-
clent to convince Inspector Dwyer that
ne had been adventuring in the fourth
dimension. After she had landed
Dwyer declared he had had sufficient
lying for the rest of his life.
Another machine which started up
with movie operator crashed after
1T had assembled to an altitude of fiftv
ieet, when the engine failed. 1t fell on
q wing, but neither of the occupants
was hurt.
Patrolman Lewis H. Morris, of the
1lSth Precinct, Brooklyn, had his right
arm bruised while trying to keep the
crowd back during the Roman race one
or the four horses knocking him against
a fence. During the sham battle Jack
hearney, OF 1855 Grove Street, Brooklyn,
was struck in the nose by the butt Of a
gun. Patrolman F. Block, of Traffic D.
brooklyn, sustained a lacerated thumb
when an airplane struck movie
camera IN taking off splinter from
the camera struck his thumb.
The crowd quickly recognized Sir
Thomas, who wore his familiar Yacht
ing suit. They besieged him during the
games, and also at the close. Hundreds
sought to shake his hand, and he bore
up through the strain, but finally
shouted: whoa, before | collapse y
HIS friends then rushed him through
the crowd to his automobile.
Clowns in Burlesque
The intervals between the different
events were enlivened by strains from
the bands of the Police, Fire and Street
Cleaning departments. An army of
clowns, recruited from the ranks of
policemen, under Lieutenant Martin ].
Regan, engaged in mimic warfare and
other hIrin Snna ut