Viewing page 24 of 60

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

which Baldwin and Knabenshue had been demonstrating on the West Coast following the St. Louis World's Fair. Knabenshue was chosen to pilot the dirigible. 
The race was started and almost immediately the "California Arrow" ran into a stiff side wind. For a while, it looked as if the Pope-Toledo would be a certain winner. However, the wind decreased and allowed the "California Arrow" to make sufficient forward speed to arrive at the hotel grounds several minutes ahead of the dust-churning Pope-Toledo. The dirigible had met and conquered its first adversary, the automobile. 
Meanwhile, Baldwin decided to build more dirigibles and this required that he hire additional aerial exhibitionists to participate in the various fairs and carnivals. He hired Lincoln Beachey, a 17-year-old lad, to pilot his dirigibles in events throughout the west. Beachey had first flown George E. Heaton's dirigible in February, 1905, at Idora Park. One of the more important engagements was Beachey's appearance at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, Oregon.
Later, Baldwin decided to tour the Orient with the "California Arrow" and engaged Beachey as its operator. It was repaired and modified several times, including the addition of a new larger gasbag and a more powerful motor. At the conclusion of the Oriental