JAMES C. MARS 1876-1944

JAMES C. MARS - 1910 Ben Boulden, Times Record - 9-14-03

AVIATOR GLIDES DOWN ROCKIES, 7500 FEET IN WRECKED BIPLANE MARS ATTEMPTS FLIGHT OVER MAIN RANGE, BUT AIRSHIP BREAKS IN MIDAIR HELENA, Mont., Oct. 1, 1910---With the single exception of the time he fell into the Atlantic Ocean, Bud Mars, the biplane aviator, today underwent the most singular experience in his life time. That he escaped without a scratch seems miraculous.      In an effort to win a pure [purse] offered by John Ringling, the circus man, and Lewis Penwell of this city, Mars attempted a flight across the main range of the Rocky Mountains, which, however, ended in the partial demolition of his machine. The skies were dark and the air rather heavy, which was regarded as in his favor, but for some reason, while at a height of 7500 feet above sea level, the machine refused to work and he essayed his famous glide. The machine struck the mountain side with such force as to break the running wheels, one plane and the propeller, but Mars escaped without a scratch.      He left tonight for Spokane, where he has a week's engagement, after which he will return to Chicago to enter in the race to New York.   The article above comes from the 1969 book "See Them Flying: Houston Peterson's Air-Age Scrapbook, 1909-1910", which reproduces the scrapbook that the author kept, as a child, during 1909-1910. It's filled with original newspaper clippings and articles and is a huge treasure trove of original source material. Submitted through the courtesy of Roy Nagl, 12-31-03

 

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