"Reap the Wild Wind"
Rockford Airshow, 1911
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First powered flights in heavier-than-air craft were made here in 1911 by Jimmy Ward and Beckwith Havens in a pair of the earliest Curtiss planes --Rockford Register-Republic, 01-11-1958 GETTING READY FOR AIR MEN SCORE OF MEN AT WORK ON AVIATION GRONDS AT LOVE'S PARK PUBLIC TO VIEW MACHINES Close Inspection of Aeroplanes to be Permitted Each Day of the Meet On Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week Rockford's first aviation meet will be held at Love's park. Flights will be made by two noted Curtiss aviators, and Curtiss biplanes will be the machines flown. Everyone is eager to see an aeroplane in flight, and it is doubtful whether any one attraction has ever stirred up so much interest among the residents of Rockford and vicinity as the Love's park aerial meet. Several telegrams were received this morning which prove conclusively that Jimmy Ward and his Shooting Star will made good during the three day exhibition. These telegrams were received in response to a telegram sent by the local management as follows: "O.A. Boyle, Pres. Chamber of Commerce, Wichita, Kansas. Have contracted with Curtiss Exhibition company for Jimmy Ward to make flights here this week. I hear he recently flew in your city. Please wire at our expense whether or not he made good." Mr. Boyle reported as follows: "Jimmy Ward is a wonder; he made good in every respect; you made no mistake in getting him. He will thrill everybody. Signed, O.A. Boyle, Pres. Chamber of Commerce." A similar telegram was also sent to Edwin R. Bailess at Bessemer, Michigan, who replied as follows: "Jimmy Ward in his Curtiss biplane Shooting Star made three flights here last Tuesday and three Friday. Second flight very spectacular, of seventeen minutes' duration, and pronounced best yet made in Michigan. With favorable weather and grounds you may safely gaurantee satisfactory flights. Signed, Edwin R. Bailess, President Firemen's Tournament Committee." Putting Field in Shape The two mechanics and a score of laborers under the direction of road manager R.H. Young are busily enaged in the erection of the Hangars at the field, and Jimmy Ward's Shooting Star will be ready for the flights by Thursday. Haven's machine is expected to reach Rockford not later than tomorrow morning, and this will also be assembled and turned up so everything will be in readiness for the first flight at 3:30 o'clock on Friday afternoon. The two aviators will give as a concluding feature of their six flights each day a thrilling five mile race. The machines which will be used by Ward and Havens are known as the Curtiss Biplane ravers which are the fastest Biplanes in the world, and are of the same design practically as the one in which Mr. Curtiss won the International speed trophy at Rheims, France. Thousands of people will attend the meet, and it will materially boom Rockford as a large proportion of the crowd will be made up of others than residents of this city. Owning to the field being covered wih sod there will be an absence of dust which make many out door events in the summer objectionable. In all probability there will be a grandstand erected. Placed will be reserved for automobiles and carriages. Inspection of Machines In order to give the people who attend the meet an opportunity to view the biplanes at close range the grounds will be open for admission at one p.m. an from that time until the flights begin a close inspection of the machines may be made. To thoroughly enjoy the most wonderful features of the flights which are the starts and finish, the people must be on the field. Tickets for the great aviation meet will be placed on sale tomorrow morning at the following places: Mechan Drug Company, corner of West State and Wyman, Worthington & Slade Drug Store on East State street and John Wester's Drug Store on 7th street. --Rockford Register Gazette, August 1, 1911 AVIATOR IS HERE FOR FLIGHTS BECKWITH HAVENS, WHO WILL RACE IN CURTISS BIPLANES WITH JIMMY WARD AT AVIATION MEET, ARRIVED IN ROCKFORD TODAY--BOTH WARD AND HAVEN ARE ENTERED IN NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA FLIGHT--WARD WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW Fresh from a series of flights at Erie, Pa., Beckwith Haven arrived in Rockford this morning to participate in the aviation meet which will be conducted Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Love's Park by the Glenn Curtiss birdmen. Havens looks more like a college undergraduate than the daring aviator that he is. He is debonair and declines to discuss very much the chances that he takes. Last Sunday at Erie, Havens made several successful flights. H.R. Young, road manager for the Curtiss Exhibition Company, stated that the Curtiss Company has entered Ward and Havens in the New York to Philadelphia race for which Gimbel Brothers, the big dry goods merchants, have offered $5,000 to the winner. Havens was accompanied by his mechanicians, who have commenced assembling his machine. Jimmy Ward is expected tomorrow and his mechanicians are here and have assembled his machine, Shooting Star. Ward and Havens have contracted to make six or more flights Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. They will also have a five-mile race each day that will conclude the day's program in exciting fashion. The American Band has been engaged to play at Love's Park every afternoon during the aviation meet. --Rockford Republic, Wednesday Evening, 1911 SHOWERS FAIL TO STOP DARING AVIATORS SHOWER AT AVIATION FIELD THIS AFTERNOON CREATED HEAVY ATMOSPHERE THAT WAS IDEAL FOR FLYING--FIRST FLIGHT EXPECTED TO START ON SCHEDULE TIME--WARD AND HAVENS MADE SIX SUCCESSFUL FLIGHTS YESTERDAY. HAVENS FURNISHED A THRILLING MOMENT WHEN HIS BIG NEW BIPLAME ALMOST TIPPED OVER--YOUNG AVIATOR KEPT HIS NERVE AND FINISHED FLIGHT IN BRILLIANT STYLE--WARD IS MORE DARING THAN BROOKINGS OR LATE ARCHIE HOXSIE--GREAT CROWD EXPECTED TOMORROW Aviation Field, Aug. 5, 3:15 pm--despite a sever shower which drenched the field at 1:30 o'clock, Jimmy Ward and Beckwith Havens, the Glenn Curtiss aviators here for the three days' meet, will positively make their scheduled flights this afternooon. "Conditions are better today at this time than they were yesterday at the same time." said R.H. Young, manager of Curtiss aviators, at 3 o'clock this afternoon to the Republic. "The shower was just what he wanted. It leaves a heavy atmosphere after it and eliminates the choppy condition which almost caused trouble for Havens yesterday. I am confident that the flights will be very successful." Although the skies were overcast at noon and the wind blew a regular gale, the storm quickly passed, making ideal conditions for the aviators. A great crowd of people will be on hand to see the flyers, and if possible the rave between Ward and Havens will be put on. Sunday, however, is expected to be the record-breaking day of the meet. Jimmy Ward is rapidly coming to the front as an aviator. He is working on a guarantee and a percentage now, and it is said that he makes as high as &500 and &600 some days , and that his income is usually seeral thousand dollars a week. Six successful flights marked the opening of the meet yesterday afternoon, and were witnessed by more than 2,000 people. Ward made four trips in his Shooting Star, and Havens two flights. Ward's flights were all of thhe sensational kind as he is a very daring young aviator, and his dips and figure eights brough thunderous applause every time he flew over the course. Haven's Near Accident Havens furnished the day's thiller when his new biplane, the new engine of which had given his mechanicians trouble, seemed to tip and came gliding down northeast of the aviation field at a perilous angle. Ward, who had already made two flights, warned Havens of a dangerous air current in that section, and told him not to turn too sharply. Havens seemed to be about 500 feet in the air when he encountered the trouble, and to those in the enclosure his life seemed to hang in the balance. "He's a goner" exclaimed Ward, who was intently watching Haven's flight. "I told him about that place. Yes, he's coming down sure!" While everyone in the field stood breathless, expecting to see Havens and his biplane dash to the ground, the young aviator succeeded in turning his craft out of the dangerous current, and heading southward soon righted it and sailed triumphantly away. This presence of mind brought him a great burst of applause, which was deserved for if the planes had tipped much further the machine would certainly have crashed to the ground. When Havens descended he admitted that his experience had given him a scare, but that did not seem to interfere with his nerve, for later in the afternoon he made a beautiful cross-country flight at a high altitude. The near-accident was not due to any inexperience on Havens part, but to the aeroplane which is a new one, and Havens had never flown it before. The two aviators who are the first to fly in this vicinity, more than made good in the exhibition. Ward's daring and control of his biplane is remarkable. He turns as easily to the right as to the left, and takes thrilling dips close to land when the slightest mechanical trouble would mean instant death. The machine which he uses is one in which Glenn Curtiss made some of his famous flights, and it seems to be an almost perfect bit of mechanism Flights Made on Time The flights started yesterday a little earlier than the scheduled time. Ward ascended for a test of atmospheric conditions, going up nearly 500 feet and flyiing around the course. His start was perfect, the machine rising after speeding on its wheels for a distance of about a hundred yards. The audience was particularly interested in the start and also applauded Ward's perfect descent to the track. The first flight started about 3:25 'clock, and Ward remained up about twelve minutes. Havens was scheduled to make a test flight after Ward, but the motor of his bigger machine did not run smoothly at first and the mechanicians commenced workk to repair the trouble. It required eight men to hold the Havens machine when the eight-cylindered motor was in operation and the roar of the swiftly revolving propeller was deafening. While Haven's motor was overhauled another flight by Ward was announced. Ward, who is an ex-taxi driver and a frail, light-complexioned young man, had been puffing a cigar since his descent. He handed his hat to a friend and put on his leather head gear. Then he climbed into the Shooting Star and with a smile to his mechanicians started off. Hi second flight lasted seventeen minutes, and during it he made spirals, dips and glides and demonstrated his steering control. He came down gracefully, landed exactly in the track, and coolly resumed his smoke. On both his first flights Ward traveled between sixty and seventy miles an hour. He flew a considerable distance east of the aviation field, and returning, crossed Rock River, making dips which frightened many people on the Country Club grounds, who thought his machine was failing. The third flight was made by Haven and it was on this trip that he had the trouble. He got a fine start but made a too-abrupt upward turn, at the same time attempting to bank his machine to the right. He arose over the houses at the north end of the field and the tipping machine seemed on the point of plunging down on the roofs of the houses. Once he had the machine righted, Havens continued his flight easily and made a good descent. The fourth flight was announced as a "joy ride among the clouds" by Ward and this lasted more than twenty minutes. Ward ascended to a high altitude and then commenced flying over a great territory, going several miles from the fields. On his return he cut figure eights and startled spectators by sudden dips and glides. For a concluding feature both Ward and Havens ascended, Ward getting away first. It was announced that he would try for altitude. He rose steadily several thousand feet flying directly east until he was almost lost sight of. Havens also got a good start and without any trouble proceeded eastward, flying at a high altitude and until he disappeared from view. Ward's machine seemed only a tiny speck when it turned west and came toward the field. Higher and higher he soared until he reached an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. Haven's machine then came into sight and made a most beautiful appearance as it traveled toward the field. Havens made the first descent, but Ward remained up some minutes longer, and his final descent brought him enthusiastic applause. The weather yesterday was ideal, except for choppy conditions during the middle of the afternoon. Later these currents vanished and the flying was much smoother. Between flights the American Band played. The flights were watched by many outside of the field, and the machines were visible for a great distance. Many people in the city caught glimpses of Ward when he made his ascension for altitude. Excellent pictures of the birdmen are being taken by Usher & Hebard, the official Glenn Curtiss photgraphers, to whom the Republic in indebted for the fine portrait of Ward published herewith. Many good pictues were secured yesterday by these picture men and will be on sale at the grounds. Other pictures will be left here with a dealer after the meet is closed. The meet is certain to be a success and the credit of giving Rockford a chance to see aviators in actual flight is due to the Rockford & Interurban Railroad Company. Gen. Manager Sparks, his secretary, Mr. Hays, and C.C. Shockley have all worked hard for the success of the meet. Ward Married Recently Jimmy Ward, the aviator, was married recently but did not bring his wife to Rockford. She is in Chicago, awaiting his return. Ward's home is in Chicago, where he drove a taxi before he became an aviator. Since he commenced flying he has accumulated a fat bank account and flashed some "stones" of dazzling size. Havens has not had much experience as yet, but he is a game young man and is likely to make a daring aviator. His home is in New York City. Rockford people who saw the late Archie Hoxsie, who took Roosevelt for a flight, and Walter Brookins, make aerial trips, declare that Ward is even more daring than these noted birdmen. Final Meet Sunday Provided weather conditions are good, a great audience is expected Sunday afternoon when six flight will be made, starting at 3:30 o'clock. --Rockford Republic, Saturday Evening, August 5, 1911 DARING AVIATOR HAS SURPRISE PARALLELS RIVER AND MAKES CIRLCE OVER DOWNTOWN DISTRICT SUNDAY MEET WAS FINE SUCCESS Ideal Weather Conditions, Large Attendance and Freedom from Accident "I know a lot of people who haven't half a dollar and want to see an aeroplane in action and I'm going to give them a look at one. I've seen the time when a fifty-cent piece looked like a wagon wheel to me and just as hard to get." Thus soliloquized Jimmy Ward yesterday afternoon after he had flown in his Shooting Star a couple of times. So he circled the field once, crossed the river, passed over the Country club and Harlem park and followed the west bank of the river as far south as State street, crossed the river there and made a cirlce south, across the water power and back along the east bank to the aviation field, approaching that locality from the south and at a great height, probably the highest he has flown in the three days he has been giving exhibitions. His height was estimated variously at from half a mile to a mile and probably 2,000 to 3,000 feet was close to the truth. However, one man's estimate is as good at another's and nobody can prove or disprove any statment. Crossed Downtown District People who couldn't or wouldn't go to the aviation field Sunday afternoon had an opportunity to see Jimmy and his Shooting Star and residents along the river bank for several blocks west were surprised about 6 o'clock to hear the drone of his propeller, like a great electric fan or a sawmill and they rushed out to see. There came the biplane, cleaving the air where no biplane ever had passed before. He seemed to be following Church street south and when over the center of the business section he turned east and made a figure of eight and then back to the starting point. Probably more people were massed along the river north of the North End bridge Sunday than ever were there before. The aviation field had an immense crowd, stretching half a mile north from the starting point along both sides of the course, massed at the south end of the enclosure and occupying every point of vantage near the machines. Then there were other thousands on the west bank of the river at Harlem park, between that and the country club and on the embankments of the (?)atter property. Militia Swept Aside Soldiers from the national guard stationed to keep peole off the Country club grounds were swept aside when the crowd started and were not seen again on their beats. The Country club assisted the promoters of the meet to the extent of permitting guards to be placed so that the spectators might be lured through the entrance gates at so much a head, but the rush was irresistable Sunday and the barriers went down. The Country club folk had no interest except to keep the putting greens from being trample and the crowd respected that desire and kept off. These are velvety plots devloped by years of care and could be trampled to ruin in a few moments by a crowd. Hundreds of people were in boats along the west bank of the river and many were on the property north of the aviation field where they could see the flyers get away. Out in Guilford, Harlem and Roscoe townships the residents sat on their porches and enjoyed the spectacle of the great machines above them and friends from further out drove in and assisted the residents in watching the show. The stunts of Saturday and Sunday were much like those of Friday. Ward was the most venturesome and made dips, slides and figures of eight as well as making the greatest altitude. Havens flew consistently and carefully and made exceedingly fast time. Sunday Havens proceeded to the north so far that he was lost to sight for fifteen minutes and Ward finally started in pursuit just before the (?) army biplane appeared over the woods far north and scuttled homeas fast as motor could drive it. It is believed Havens almost went to Beloit on that flight. Ward Had His Joke Ward put one over on the crowd in one of his flights. He proceeded to the northeast and was lost to view. While people were straining their eyes for a sight of his machine returning they heard a drumming in the south and beheld the aviator coming up from Harlem park. He had slipped around behind the hills and played a joke on his observers. On his final flight Sunday Ward loosed a bunch of carnations as he passed over he fielyd and they scattered about and were picked up as souvenirs by those close enough to reach them. Taken as a whole the meet was a great success. The three days were as pleasant as could have been made to order. The general weather conditions were ideal and the wind was not troublesome. The grounds were suited admirable to the purpose and the means of transportation were excellent. Enterprise is Commended The enterprise of the promoters in bringing the flyers here is to be commended and Rockford people responded well to the opportunity thus offered. No one percent of the people who were present ever had seen aeroplanes fly before and the experience is one never to be forgotten. Whatever developments follow in the navigation of the air the first flights in Rockford will be remembered as a pioneer experience in the art of flying. How the aviators are able to find their way back to the starting place across strange country was somewhat puzzling to many, but they seemed to come as true as the needle to a compass every time. "Sometimes it is a puzzle," said Jimmy Ward, "but here it is easy enough for the river is a sure guide. A fellow has only to keep that in view and follow it back until he can get sight of the familiar setting of the landing place and the rest is easy." This was the rule he followed in his flight of the city, the stream being an infallible guide of his trip both ways. Promoters Face a Loss Promoters of the enterprise, inter-urban employes, have not completed a check on the reciepts but have an approximate total and state they will have aloss of from $1,500 tp $2,000 to make up. The attendance is 1,400 for Friday, 1,500 Saturday and 4,400 Sunday, paid admissions. The Curtiss company is paid $3,500 for the men and machines. This leaves a margin too small to cover the expense for advertising, policing the grounds, rental and incidentals that will bring the loss to the figure stated, the promoters claim. To the observer it seemed as though the attendance must have been nearly double that reported, but it is difficult to estimate a crowd strung along so wide an area, and the figures should speak for themselves. --Rockford Register-Gazette, Monday, August 7, 1911
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