WALTER E. JOHNSON FLIES TO GRATZ
“They Shall fly as the eagle.” — Habakkuk, Chapter 1, Verse 8
Perhaps the most thrilling spectacle ever witnessed here was the flight yesterday afternoon by aviator Walter E. Johnson from Alfred Bechtel’s field north of town [Elizabethville] to the Gratz fair-grounds. The airship was built by the Talmage Brothers Aeroplane Company, of Bath, New York, and was brought here by Mr. Johnson and Earl Beers, under contract to give exhibitions at the fair Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. It was about 2:45 when everything was in readiness and the aviator perched himself upon his seat and the next second he sailed gracefully up-up-up, westward, over the down-town section, circled about and headed in the direction of Loyalton where he veered and crossed the Valley along the terminus of Short Mountain and finally appeared but a dim speck in mid-sky, and the3n was lost to view entirely. The trip to Gratz was made in exactly six minutes and he made a perfect landing. A great crown of town and country people, and the pupils of the schools, saw the brilliant performance.
The Gratz Fair management made a master-stroke in securing this wonderful attraction this year.
Three pigeons sat on the roof of Mr. Bechtel’s barn when the bird-man winged his flight, seemingly chagrined over the audacity of their new rival.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 18 September 1913, via Newspapers.com.
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