BARNSTORMING CENTRALIA Page 2

HUB CITY FESTIVAL. MAY 30-31- JUNE 1      CENTRALIA,      WASH 1912                Pennants that were made up to celebrate Claude Berlin's flight over Centralia. The green pennant shows his biplane. Collection of the Lewis County Historical Museum Courtesy of Karen L. Johnson

 

C. A. BERLIN MAKES HIS FLIGHT Leaves Fair Grounds and Flies Like a Swallow to Cen- tralia and Return Did Not Land at Depot Owing to Shifting Winds and the Large Crowd May 30, 1912      There were several thousand people lined up this morning by the new union depot to witness the first official flight of C. A. Berlin, the Centralia aviator. Promptly at half past ten this morning, Mr. Berlin left the fair grounds. He first went south over the edge of Chehalis and then proceeded north to make his flight over Centralia. The arrangements included a landing east of the depor, but Mr. Berlin stated that the air conditions were not favorable for a successful landing and he also stated that from his altitude it appeared that the spectators were crowded in too close. The christening which was to have taken place this morning will take place tomorrow afternoon at the fair grounds just prior to the commencin of the ball game. Miss Genetta Salick will do the honors with the champaigne bottle. Mr. Berlin said that when he flew over the depot this morning that his instrument recorded an altitude of 2800 feet. He said the engine of the machine worked beautifly but the winds were very nasty and uncertain. The flight tomorrow will be made at 12 o'clock noon and will be much better than the one today. Mr. Berlin will climb his aeroplane up to an altitude of about 4000 feet, or nearly twice as high as he was today. The flight on Saturday will ???? of the other two. Mr. Berlin flies a Curtiss biplane. The power is furnished by an eight cylinder 60-horse power engine. The machine weighs about 1400 pounds. A big majority of the people in the audience this morning had never witnessed an aeroplane flight before. Mr. Berlin has made about 130 flights, but the one this morning was his first official one since he secured his license whidh was about six weeks ago. The machine is absolutely new, having been purchased in Hammondsport, N.Y., three weeks ago. Newsclipping from the Centralia News-Examiner, May 30, 1912 Courtesy of Karen L. Johnson

 

HUB CITY FESTIVAL June 2, 1912      Centralia again rubbed it into Chehalis Saturday afternoon at the fair grounds by a score of 9 to 3. The game was played before over 1600 interested spectators.      After the game, C. A. Berlin made an aeroplane flight in spite of the advice of his friends, who claimed that the wind was too uncertain.      The flight was to have been made at two o'clock, but owing to the high wind it was postponed until after the game.      When the game was over the wind was still blowing in all directions at once, and it looked for a time as if the people were going to be disappointed.      After waiting about half an hour, Mr. Berlin decided that rather than disappont the crowds who were on hand to see him fly, to make a short flight. He rose from the ground directly in front of the grandstand at an altitude of about 700 feet. On the north, made a circle to the left and flew south towards Chehalis and back over the edtge of the grandstand, the second turn he made his landing which was as perfect as could be desired. The people who were watching the flight could tell by the action of the big biplne that the wind was unsteady.      Mr. Berlin intended to do some fancy stunts, but owing to the condition of the wind, contented himself with a straight away flight with a few ocean wave dips. Newsclipping from the Centralia News-Examiner, June ?, 1912 Courtesy of Karen L. Johnson

 

PARMELEE DIES June 2, 1912      C. A. Berlin, the Centralia aviator, was deeply moved yesterday morning at the Fair Grounds when he heard the news of the death of Philip Parmelee, who was killed in North Yakima Saturday while making a flight in a Wright type biplane. Just before Mr.Berlin made his flight yesterday, he walked up to a friend who was standing near the machine and pulled a morning paper from the friend's pocket. On opening it the headlines annoucing the death of Parmelee stared him in the face. As Mr. Berlin and Parmelee are old friends, the news of the death naturally shocked him for the moment. He quickly recovered and made one of the best flights he has made yet. Of course Mr. Berlin feels very keenly the death of his friend but he will not allow anything of that kind to shake his nerves. Mr. Berlin also stated that while he is east on his engagements that the weather conditions will have to be good or he will not risk a flight. Newsclipping from the Centralia News-Examiner, June 2, 1912 Courtesy of Karen L. Johnson

 

BERLIN TO MOVE June 6, 1912      C. A. Berlin and C. M. Carter are packing up the Berlin airship today and it will be ready for shipping about the 10th to Reno, Nev., where the next flight will be made by Mr. Berlin. Ed Cuddy will act as deputy constable during Mr. Carter's absence. Newsclipping from the Centralia News-Examiner, June 6, 1912 Courtesy of Karen L. Johnson

 

 

CLAUDE BERLIN Elk's Convention, 6-19-1912 Collection of Jerry Blanchard, 9-9-09

 

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