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[[newspaper clipping]] 8 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, SAN WATCH OUT FOR WISEMAN SKY-SAILING ON SATURDAY Splendid Test Flight Made in Petaluma Yesterday Santa Rosa Aviator Will Come Home in His Big Airship, but Wishes to Wait Until Fair Weather and Dry Ground Make Sure a Good Landing Place Aviator Fred Wiseman did not attempt to make his home-coming flight yesterday. Most of the day was spent in putting the machine in readiness after changes decided upon at the Tanforan meeting. But about 5 o'clock in the afternoon a splendid test flight was made. [[image - photograph of plane in air]] [[caption]] Wiseman in Flight at Petaluma [[/caption]] The course led out over the slaughterhouses north of Petaluma to a point about where the tracks of the North-western Pacific and Electric roads diverge, and from there back over the depot to Kenilworth Park, the starting point. The distance covered is estimated at between six and seven miles, and Wiseman was in the air something like nine or ten minutes. The test was satisfactory in every way, but in alighting, the skids dug into the mushy ground and one of the beams was broken. It was replaced inside of an hour, but in view of the close proximity of the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, where Wiseman is under contract to give two days exhibition, it has been decided to allow another day or so for the ground to dry before making the Petaluma-Santa Rosa flight, rather than take a chance of another accident. If the weather remains clear the flight will probably be made Saturday, and when Santa Rosa's aviator comes sailing home the town will give him a reception that will not soon be forgotten. In yesterday's test the motor worked more satisfactorily than ever before, and developed a ground "pull" of more than 400 pounds when attached to the cable and scales. The added plane surface has given the machine much more carrying capacity than it had before. In every respect the condition of the machine is now regarded as satisfactory and equal to the work it will be called upon to perform, and barring accidents or developments of an unforeseen nature there is no question whatever but that Wiseman will be able to make his homeward flight from Petaluma to Santa Rosa whenever he decides to start. Representatives of The Press Democrat present at Kenilworth Park yesterday were surprised that any attempt should have been made to pull off even a test flight, in view of the softness of the ground there. A few days ago the field was mostly under water, and yesterday when the machine was being rolled over the field the wheels sunk into the mud a distance of several inches. The ground is drying fast, however, and it is believed that by Saturday it will be in proper condition. Since the San Francisco meet, the machine has been housed in the old Pavilion at Kenilworth Park, and the work of re-assembling it did not begin until yesterday morning. It was almost 3 o'clock before the machine was all put together properly, and the motor started. By that time quite a wind had sprung up, which did not subside until a little after 5 o'clock. A number of Petaluma people drove out to Kenilworth Park to witness the flight, and in Santa Rosa Wiseman's home-coming was the principal topic of discussion during the day. All day long people were on the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of the big flying machine, of which they have heard so much, and until almost dark the Press Democrat telephone was kept ringing almost constantly by subscribers anxious to know when Wiseman would reach here. [[newspaper clipping]] WANT BARNEY OLDFIELD TO RACE HERE The report that the Santa Rosa Automobile Association was making efforts to secure Barney Oldfield for automobile races is incorrect, as it is Ben H. Noonan and Fred J. Wiseman who have been considering the matter. The Santa Rosa Automobile Association of which J. H. Einhorn is president, is barred from handling the noted racer. [[newspaper clipping]] AVIATION FLIGHT IS TO OCCUR AT NOON Fred J. Wiseman to Give Exhibition Wednesday on Arrival of the Morning Trains in Cloverdale Fred J. Wiseman, the Santa Rosa aviator, with his crew of assistants, has gone to Cloverdale to have everything in readiness for Wednesday's flights on the arrival of the morning excursion and regular trains from the south. This will make it necessary for all who are going to witness the aviation features as well as the citrus exhibit to take the early excursion or regular train. There will be a special train at 9:20, preceeding the regular morning train at 10:25, and a special at 1:55 in the afternoon. The rate for the round trip on any of these three trains will be $1.00, good to return or the train leaving Cloverdale at 2:50 or the specials at 9:15.
