Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13

often, but she went about SO efficiently
capturing one after another OF the
smaller prizes in events for woman
pilots that she was able to 60 home
with about $4,000 winnings to show for
the 10 days.
In the |Transcontinental Derby, which
opened the big show. Mrs. Phoebe
Omlie won herself $4,000 in the wom-
ems division, $1,250 in other prize
bile with a slightly banged-up fender,
result of an airport skirmish. D. C.
Warren, who led the mems division in
the derby, took down $4,000.
Others who did we'll by their purses
as a result of flying ability were Harold
S. Johnson, transport pilot between this
city and Chicago, who got $4,000 sec
ond place money in the BendiX race;
Beeler Blevins. $4,000 for third place
in the same race; Martie Bowman. ST.
200 in the transcontinental derby;
trophies; Mr.. and Mrs Arthur j.
Davis, 81 $50; Ben o. Howard, $2,400;
Dale Red" Jackson. $4,000: W. j..
Weddell, $3.50. and Ray More. $2,750.
Scores of other prizes were won, and
all in all it was a pretty grand AFFAIR
for those flyers who had that little
extra something it takes to win.
Races Draw Crowds.
Estimates place the total attendance
at the National Air Races during the
10 days of aviation's greatest show at
approximately 100000, the final day
gathering totaling $4,000 within the
airport boundaries and an estimated
IS 900 additional who paid no admission
but strained their eyes to see the show
as best they might from the adjacent
dusty roads and fields.
A 10-foot canvas wall, encirling the
entire mile-Square airport, shut off the
view of ground events to those outside
unless they resorted to climbing. This
they did in large numbers. Every
stable tree bore strange two-legged
fruit, equipped with binoculars and
other aids to vision. Many Of the
trees we're furnished with tree houses
or makeshift seats, some padded and
cushioned for real comfort. The tops
of high Signboards near the airport
formed grandstands for scores of boys
and men, who sat long and uneasily
in rows like blackbirds on a telephone
line.
Until the auditors get through
scrambling yards and yards of figures
it will be difficult to tell just how the
races resulted financially, but it APP
pears that the directors of the Ma
tional Air Races of Cleveland, Inc. are
going to take a financial beating which
may run as high as $4,000. but which
will be largely offset by the balance of
$4,000 in the treasury when the races
and the bad weather began
The air-race organization already
has posted $12.50O with the National
Aeronautic Association. under whose
auspices all aviation events must be
run, to insure the holding of tie 1882
races in Cleveland ard is prepared TO
hand over another like amount when
required. Plans already are in progress
for the bigger and better national air
races Of 1882.
Crowds Seek Thrills.
The psychology of the crowds at
tending the national air races formed
as interesting a study for the flying
people who put en- the great annual
show as the show formed for Old Man
Public and his family
Despite the growing public interest
in aviation, it was apparent that many
of the finer points of the competitions
are lost on the crowds, and that what
attracts the vast gatherings of spec
tators is largely and lamentably the
"whoopee" part OF the business.
The crowds like good acrobatics per-
formed close enough to the ground so
that there is a reasonable amount of
doubt about the pilot getting out with a