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[[preprinted]] 16 [[/preprinted]] [[newspaper clipping]] FLIGHT OF THE BIRDMAN IS FINISHED IN TRIUMPH Fred Wiseman Sails from Petaluma to Santa Rosa [[image - photograph of Wiseman in aircraft]] [[caption]] AVIATOR FRED J. WISEMAN [[/caption]] ALIGHTS IN FIELD SOUTH OF TOWN Will Fly Next Week at Cloverdale's Citrus Fair, and the Week After That at San Jose – Wiseman Eager for Further Conquests Fred Wiseman has come back, and as per schedule. Saturday morning he completed his daring cross-country flight from Petaluma to Santa Rosa, and alighted in the open field close to the Enz residence about three-quarters of a mile south of the city limits. When Wiseman and his assistants left the big machine Friday night at Denman's station, where it was brought to earth shortly before 1 o'clock in the afternoon, it was carefully covered with a huge canvas to protect it from the dampness. Two men slept beside the machine all night, on a huge pile of straw that had been hauled out into the field for the purpose, and with bonfires to help keep them warm. Wiseman stayed in Petaluma. Soon after eight o'clock Saturday morning the mechanicians began to remove the canvas covering, and spread it out in front of the machine to form a runway. A few minutes time was consumed in filling the tanks and tuning up the engine, and then Wiseman climbed into the driver's seat and gave the word to "turn her over," which in the case of an aeroplane is accomplished by twisting the propeller blades from the rear. The engine started almost the first time, and ran beautifully. Wiseman signified that he was ready, and the attendants gave the machine headway. After traversing the length of the canvas, the running wheels struck the soft adobe and the progress of the machine was materially checked, but only for an instant. Wiseman tilted his forward planes, the engine responded nobly to the added load, and slowly the great machine began to rise. It was a straight-away flight for Santa Rosa. Wiseman was off on the last stage of his homeward flight. A few moments later came the message from Cotati. "The airship is rapidly approaching Cotati from Penngrove, and travelling beautifully." Four minutes later the telephone bell rang again. This time the message was: "The airship is just passing over the Cotati depot, and Wiseman signals that everything is all right." Inside of one minute bombs were being exploded in front of The Press Democrat office to notify the public, the whistles were blowing, and the whole town knew that Wiseman the undaunted was coming home. All over town automobiles were in readiness, and people quickly piled in and started for the south side, where it was recognized that the best view of the flight could be obtained. Hundreds of people sought places of vantage on the housetops and on the roofs of the tall buildings. And sure enough, there he came! For the greater part of the distance, Wiseman flew low, the height averaging about 100 feet, although occasionally [[text cut off]] to twice that altitude. A short distance south [[text cut off]] plied with question after question regarding his trip, after which he was conducted up town, where he delivered several letters, and a package of groceries sent from Petaluma by Vickey & Vonson to Kopf & Donovan. The letters read as follows: Aviation Field, Santa Rosa and Petaluma Aero Navigation Co., Trip No. 1. Mr. John P. Overton, Santa Rosa, California: Petaluma invites Santa Rosa to her Industrial and Pure Food exposition. Respectfully yours, Geo. P. McNear. To His Honor, Mayor James R. Edwards, Santa Rosa, Cal: Petaluma sends greetings and best wishes to Santa Rosa by Aviator Fred J. Wiseman. G. P. McNear. Kenilworth Park, Petaluma, Cal., February 17, 1911. H. L. Tripp, Postmaster, Santa Rosa, Cal., Dear Sir and Friend: Petaluma sends, via air route, congratulations and felicitations upon the successful mastery of air by a Sonoma county boy in an aeroplane conceived by Sonoma county brains and erected by Sonoma county workmen. Speed the day when the United States mail between our sister cities, of which this letter is the pioneer, may all leave by the air route with speed and safety. J. E. Olmstead, Postmaster. In addition to the letters and package above mentioned, Wiseman carried a big package of Saturday morning's edition of The Press Democrat, which had been taken down on the early morning train. As he sailed over the various farmhouses along the line of his flight, Wiseman dropped a copy of the paper into each dooryard, one man catching his paper in his hands as it fell. Horses and cattle took fright at several places, and a number of rabbits were so badly frightened that they appeared to lose their senses, running around and around in a circle in an attempt to escape the aerial [[text cut off]] that appeared to be bearing WISEMAN AT TABLE WITH HIS FRIENDS He is Guest of Honor at Bismarck Banquet Celebrating His Home-Coming and Conquest of the Air There was a Birdman's Banquet at the Bismarck Saturday evening, and Fred J. Wiseman was toasted and honored for his pluck, his enterprise and his daring, and the other good qualities that inspired him and enabled him to undertake the air's conquest, and to persevere in the face of difficulties manifold, finally to triumph, to fly in company with the men who had already won their laurels, and ultimately to sail back in his own airship to his own native home. They feasted him and they toasted him, and he bore his honors like a boy who has won a Bible by reciting verses in Sunday school. Fred never loses his nerve on the hurricane-deck of an auto or when seated in an aeroplane, but put it up to him how fine a fellow he is, as they did last evening, and he "goes straight up in the air." Fred J. Bertolani and Louis Gnesa were the hosts at this Birdman's Banquet. They had promised it to Wiseman in the event of his home-coming by the cloudland way, and they did the honors in a fashion that cannot be surpassed. Besides the bounteous feast there was abundant flow of good humor and high compliment for the guest of honor, all of which passed merrily and well. Ralph Balden acted as toastmaster. The banquet lasted late, and it will be remembered long. These were present: Fred J. Wiseman, Ralph A. Bel[[text cut off]] Ben Noonan, Robert Schieffer, [[text cut off]] Patten, Will H. Rohrer, C. F. [[text cut off]] [[/newspaper clipping]] [[newspaper clipping]] FOUR BIRDMEN GET SHARES OF $3,725 Robinson and Beachy, Trainers in Curtiss Camp Divide Largest Amount Fred Wiseman of Santa Rosa Wins Second Money and Clarence Walker $250 [[boxed]] Prizes Won by Amateur Aviators at Selfridge H.A. Robinson in standard Curtiss machine, $1,333.33. Fred J. Wiseman, in original biplane, $1,283.33. Lincoln Beachey, in standard Curtiss machine, $858.33. Clarence H. Walker, in standard Curtiss machine, $250 [[/boxed]] Major E. V. Smith, U. S. A., senior judge of the aviation meet just concluded at Selfridge field, announced the award of $3,724.99 in novice prizes yesterday to four of the 16 entrants at this class. Of this sum $2,191.66 went to Robinson and Beachy, the men in training in the Curtiss camp, and Clarence H. Walker, the young San Mateo aviator, captured $250 with his Curtiss plane, which he acquired only two days before his winning flight. Fred J. Wiseman, the Santa Rosa novice birdman who carried off the greatest single honor of the meet by making the longest sustained flight as well as spending the greatest amount of time in the air, captured $1,283.33, thus winning second money. Robinson led with prizes aggregating $1,333.33 and Beachy got $858.33. Wiseman has a flight of 6 minutes 2-5 seconds to his credit, and his total time in the air for the meet as 49 minutes and 43 seconds. Relying on this showing he has applied, through Major Smith, who is the representative here of the national council of aero clubs, for an aviator's license. WISEMAN MAY FLY AGAIN If the national board requires a special test of Wiseman's ability, he will make the necessary flights at Petaluma bout February 12. Major Smith in all probability will conduct the test. Before an aviator is granted a license he must make three separate flights of five kilometers each in a closed circuit without coming to the ground and show that he can stop his engine and make a gliding descent, alighting within 150 yards of a designated spot. Wiseman has shipped his biplane to San Jose, where he will make exhibition flights Saturday and Sunday afternoons at the driving park, while James Radley, the English aviator, cuts the air in his Bleriot monoplane. Radley will fly from Selfridge field to San Jose Saturday afternoon. MEET TO BE REPORTED Major Smith will make a report of the meet to the National Council of Aero Clubs. He will devote especial attention to the American endurance record established by Phil Parmalee and to the military aspects of the meet. The photos taken from a biplane by Lieutenant Kelly will be sent east. Major Sampel Reber, signal corps, U. S. A., chairman of the contest committees of the Aero Club of America and the National Council of Aero Clubs, has written several letters to Major Smith here expressing the great interest in the military aspects of the meet. Major Reber's interest is especially significant in view of the fact that $125,000 has just been appropriated for the purchase of aeroplanes. France owns 80 airships. Hubert Latham, who presented the bow of his wrecked Antoinette monoplane to the Bohemian club as a souvenir, will be entertained by the club at a banquet tonight. He will leave for the orient tomorrow. PERFORMANCES OF NOVICES Just how and on what performance the novices won their prizes is shown by the following statement: Prize money won by Hugh A. Robinson, $1,333.33, as follows: Half a mile straight, qualifying flight, $250. Two and a half kilometer, circular, qualifying flight, $33.33. First prize for altitude, $250 (200 feet). First prize for speed (5 kilometers), $250. Time, 5 minutes 5 4-5 seconds). Second prize for duration, $125. Actual time in the air 13 minutes. Second prize for distance, $125. Total distance flown 12 1/2 kilometers. Total prize money won by Mr. Robinson, $1333.33. Prize money won by Fred E. Wiseman, $1,283.33, as follows: Half mile straight, qualifying flight, $250. Two and a half kilometers circular, qualifying flight, $333.33. First prize for distance, $250. Total distance flown 28.86 kilometers. First prize for duration, $250. Actual time in the air 49 minutes and 43 seconds. Second prize for speed, $125 (5 kilometers in 6 minutes 2 2-5 seconds. Third prize for altitude, $75 (105 feet). Prize money won by Lincoln Beachy, $858.33, as follows: Half a mile straight, qualifying flight, $250. [[/newspaper clipping]]
