Viewing page 29 of 102

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-[[strikethrough]] 28 [[/strikethrough]] - 27

The following morning Dumont arrived with his mechanics and immediately removed the cover for [[strikethrough]] balloon [[/strikethrough]] inspection. The balloon had been so badly damaged as to make it totally unfit for use!

Dumont was heartbroken. He was definitely out of the race. By the time he could have had another balloon constructed and shipped to him the fair would be closed. Dumont was every inch a gentleman, and a very good sportsman. He offered no comment or criticism. He removed his outfit and shipped it back to Paris.

This incident had the effect of making owners of airships and balloons more cautious and to stay up nights to watch their property.

TOM BENBOW was the next contestant to arrive. His balloon was spindle shaped and when fully inflated was a good example of the art of balloon building. He and his partner, Hank Wells, slept on cots under their balloon.

ALVA REYNOLDS and his wife arrived and were permitted to occupy one of the rooms at the side of the big hangar. He had no apparatus. He had a vivid dream, and from this gained the idea that by use of flapping wings he would be able to fly and win the $100,000. He wanted a balloon made that would not quite lift him, and attached to the [[strikethrough]] balloon [[/strikethrough]] was a small frame of wood upon which was to be attached a pair of wings or oars.

After the balloon was constructed, the frame was attached, and he tried to fly within the hangar but found his idea would not work. He made another trial outside the hangar, using the wings as oars, and again he found he did not have power enough to control his little ship. The management returned his entrance fee of $250 and he and his wife returned to Los Angeles.

HYPOLITE FRANCOIS arrived with his outfit which was placed in the south corridor of the hangar. Due to the accident to the Dumont airship, the fair was compelled to build a partition