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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1918)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, JULY 7, 1918. FLIGHT OVER DARK CONTINENT THRILLS Ltifbery and Pourpe Undertake 2400-Kilometer Journey in Africa. "FLYING INFIDEL" STARTS Kattves Astonished and Disturbed by Appearance of Strange Monster Overhead One Adventure Follows Another. (Copyright, 1918. by Th McClure News paper Syndicate. M Published by arrange ment.) A a human document, surrounded by dramatic circumstances, the story of the career of Raoul Lufbery, the American ace of aces, told by himself and herewith given to the public, is ona of the most remarkable and thrilling' ever penned. Major Lufbery had begun the series and was making slow progress, because the air fighting was so severe and intense, and it could hardly be expected that with the destruction of IS German machines to his credit he. would lose any chance to do bat tle with the enemy. While writing the fourth article in what was Intended to be a series of 10, the call came to go up. Paper and pencil were left on the table In his tent. And up he went, to descend half an hour later by jumping 000 feet to his death from a flaming machine. BT RAOUL LUFBERY. CHAPTER II. After many adventures in Indo-China, Marc Pourpe, "The Eagrle of the Kaa kin," returned to France, where for several weeks he remained quietly i rmj'j 1 with his family. But .L v the lure of adven ture, the longing for new experience, soon made itself felt again. The memory of glorious days in the Far East, of his aerial voyages in strange lands only urged him to set out anew. He loved the uncertainty of the life of an airman. Its endless variety and the demands which were made t.tv, Kir I. foreseen n-ent. 'BMl.XsouXlzem wished to prove the usefulness of avia tion in the colonies where roads and railroads were few and the methods of communication still very primitive. He had already done valuable work toward this end, and he could not be satisfied until he had completed the task which he had undertaken. Therefore, although his mother, who was very fond of him, urged him to stay longer at home, he was not to be persuaded and said good bye. I was not expecting that he would so quickly tire of the pleasant life in Paris, and for this reason was some what surprised to receive a hurried call from him one evening. 1 had been Bitting alone in my lodgings, stretched out comfortably before an open fire, feeling content with life and the world at large, half asleep, half dreaming, when I heard a sharp knock at the door. "Enter," I said, and Pourpe entered in his brisk, energetic- way. I knew Immediately that he had something im portant to tell me. But first, knowing that I had been very ill, he asked how I was. "Very much better," I said. Long Journey Projected. 'Kt bien! We are going to start on another long journey." Very much surprised, I asked where. He replied by drawing a map from his pocket, which he spread out on my ta ble. It was a map of North Africa. Then lie said: "Now listen, Lufbery, to what I am going to tell you. My reputation as an aviator depends upon the success of the Journey which we are about to un dertake. We've got to succeed! I have thought of everything. I have made al lowances and deductions for every un foreseen event. We are now in the epoch of long aerial voyages. Brlnde Jonc has made a circuit of all the cap itals. Roland Garros has crossed the Mediterranean, Well, we are going to fly from Cairo to Khartoum and back, following the borders of the Nile. It is a journey of 2400 kilometers, but if everything goes well, it ought easily to be made In IS days. I have left nothing to chance. I have carefully measured my distances and chosen my landing places. Leaving Cairo with a favorable wind. I will land first at Luxor, then at Assouan, then here, at Wadal Halfaya. at Abu Aimed, at Dela. A last coup d'aile volla! the capital of Soudan!" He was very enthusiastic, and I said scat the plan seemed plausible enough. "Of course it is plausible!" he said. "It Is a quite possible voyage and we are going to accomplish it. Now, In the matter of supplies, particularly of oil and gasoline, of. course they will be very difficult to find in Egypt and the Soudan. But you need not worry about this. I have made all arrangements and at all the Important towns of our route you will find everything which a little Morane needs to drink." New Machine Is Used. "A Morane?" x said. "So you are not going to fly your Bleriot?" "So. A Morane; 60-horsepower Gnome. Tou don't know much about it. I im agine 1 said that I was not familiar with it in detail, but that having Kept his Bleriot in running order when we were in lndo-China, 1 saw no reason why I should not succeed with a Morane. At any rate, up to the present, we had both been favored by chance. Very likely our good fortune would continue. He had no doubt of it. "We were born under a lucky star,' be said. Then, in the manner of all airmen who agree to such a broad statement, we both rapped on wood. We arrived at Cairo without incident, and early, one morning, under a blue Egyptian sky. the little Morane. "le tailler." as the Arabs called it. started on its long voyage. I watched it mounting higher and higher above the minarets or the old citadel. It was a curious sight in that setting. Much more curious It must have seemed to the inhabitants of the city, many of whom were aroused from sleep by the sound of the motor. Women hastened out on the terraces without waiting to adjust their veils, their children hud dled about them, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. The men were much calmer. They gazed at the aeroplane ellently, without any apparent emo tion. "The flying infidel." With .this expression they both explained and damned this early morning disturber of their devotions. Aviator Salntea Sphinx. Like a pigeon which takes its bear lngs before starting on a long jour ney. "le taillar" with the white wings, circled for a moment over the city, then turned in the direction of the pyramids. Having arrived there, I saw the ma chine suddenly point nose down and dive rapidly, as if it wished to alight on the summit of one of those great historic monuments.' It redressed, how ever, a, tow meter above them, and climbed swiftly again. Although I was far distant, and had not been told of his purpose. I easily guessed the mean ing of Pourpe's maneuver. It was his salute to the Sphinx and the pyramids and the ancient Egyptian civilization. Then he continued his flight toward the eouth and little by little disap peared in the blue distance. Four hours have passed since the de parture, and as yet no news. Luxor, the first stop, is not very far distant. 400 kilometers at the most. He should have arrived by this time. I wait. 1 still wait. It is midday. No word from the little aviator. At last, about half past 5 in the evening. I receive a tele gram, very brief, saying, "Forced to land near Menshieh. Come, at once to make slight repairs." After having traveled all .night by train I got down, not at Menshieh, but at a village a little further on. I was immediately accosted by an Arab, who, with many sweeping gestures, and pointing at the sky. tried to explain to me the arrival of "le taillar." Beeing that I did not appear to understand, he took me by the sleeve and led me to the edge of the road. There two cam els were kneeling and my guide ex plained by means of further gestures, that they were at my disposal. With his lean brown hand he pointed out to me a village at the summit of a dis tant hilL. Mainour Expects Visitor. "Mainour taal hone.", he said. This time I understood. The Mamour, the Mayor or chief dignitary of the village was expecting- me. I mounted one of the camels and the Arab loaded my baggage on the other one. Then they rose to their feet and, swaying from right to left, started off in the direc tion of the village. The Mamour was a venerable old man with a long white beard. He had received orders from Lord Kitchener, saying, "Give assistance to the avia tors in case of need," arfd was very hospitable. After having given me some refreshment, coffee and a dish of small peas, he asked me to tell him about some of our adventures. He loved stories, he sapd. I told him, politely, through the interpreter, that I had only come here in order to repair the aero plane. I said that I would be very grateful if he would take me, as quick ly as possible, to Monsieur Pourpe, who was doubtless waiting impatiently for me. "Can you tell me if he is far from here? And has he made a good land ing?" "He is close at hand." he replied, "on a sandbar in the middle of the Nile. And he has landed beautifully. A bird could not have done it better." From a distance I saw the upper part of "le taillar." The rest of the machine was hidden by a fold in the ground. Even here, on a lonely island in the, middle of the Nile, the aeroplane was surrounded by a crowd of several hun dred curious natives. Pushing my way through, I found Marc Pourpe seated quietly on the sand, under the shade of one of the wings. He was devouring an enormous leg of chicken, without in the least minding the curious glances which were fixed upon him." Machine Little Damaged. "Well, how goes the appetite? Not too bad?" "Tiens! C'est vous, Lufbery! How In the world did you find me? Not with out a good deal of trouble, I'll wager." I made a hasty examination of the aeroplane. "You see," he said, "nothing serious. Only a few wires broken, and several dents in the capot. Pure luck that X didn't turn over. Let me tell you how it happened. Yesterday the visibility was very bad, and this forced me to fly low over the river. Up to this- point everything went beautifully, and then suddenly something happened to the motor. here was nothing to do but land. I was-directly over the.rlver, but luck was with me. I saw this island beckoning me with open. arms. With out losing a second I cut the contact, maneuvered and landed like a flower, at first, then kept rolling. Wheels Bank in the sand. Result a superb pylone on my nose. The Morane being repaired, we will ingly accepted the hospitality of the old mamour. He appeared to De very happy to have us as his guests and die) everything possible to make the occa sion a memorable one. A dinner was given In our honor to which he Invited all the natives of mark from the sur rounding villages. After-Dlnner Speech Model. The banquet drew to a close, and when all' had finished, our venerable host, rising gravely from his seat. turned to Pourpe and said: My friend, to look at your white skin, I can guess that your father is a rich man. I know. too. tnat you are brave, and that, if ever In your travels in the skies you should meet a flock of eagles, you will destroy them. May God lead you!" 1 did not know, until later, the mean ing of his words. But I was impressed by his manner of saying them. And in brevity that after-dinner speech might serve as a model to all the world. Nine days after leaving Cairo Pourpe landed at Khartoum. There, as every where, he was warmly welcomed, and. for nearly a week, was the guest of the Governor. Pasha Smith. Alter so try ing a flight, a little rest was necessary. both to the pilot and the mechanician One day, in the month of January, the tranquil existence of the old ma mour of Wadl Haifa was disturbed by an unusual event the arrival of telegram which read: "To the- Mayor of the town of Wadi Haifa: Will you please select and pre pare a landing field for the aeroplane which will visit you day arter tomor row? If possible select one near the town. Dimensions, 400 meters square. Mark center with a white circle 20 meters in diameter. Light a fire at one end of the field as soon as you are informed of my departure from this place. This is to help me find the di rection of the wind. When you see me coming, guard the field with soldiers. keeping It clear of spectators. Respect fully. MARC POURPE." The news of the expected arrival of the birdman spread rapidly through the town. Men discussed it in the cafes, around their Turkish pipes, telling of what they had heard, enlarging and embellishing the rumors according to the liveliness of their fancy. Natives Mich Astonished. The Mamour called together his ad visers, discussing with them the meas ures which they should take. He was anxious to follow the orders given in the telegram, but, unfortunately, of all those present not one of them had ever seen an aeroplane at close hand. Sev eral days previously they had seen the little Morane flying toward the south, but It waa so high, and traveling ao fast, that in spite of their attention they were not able to note any of the details. To them it was simply a me chanical bird. - But they followed Pourpe's directions to the letter. The field was chosen, soldiers were sum moned to guard it,' and a fire lighted. Then, wishing to meet the requirements of the occasion in grand style, the Ma mour ordered out a band of native musicians. While awaiting the arrival of the Morane the crowd listened to the beating of the tom-toms and the wail ing of the flutes, as the musicians played the best selections of their repertoire. Meanwhile, leaving behind him for a second time the great Nubian Desert, Pourpe approached nearer and nearer to the town. At last he saw It. a, tiny speck on the landscape, but growing larger and larger, until he discovered, near a clump of palm trees, a column of black smoke rising from one end of a broad field, and blown by - the wlndtoward the west. He cut his mo tor and descended in wide spirals. Soon he could see very Dlainlv the white circle In the middle of the field, but he was at a loss to explain a larger circle of small black points at its outer rim. Approaching more closely, he saw trial they were soldiers, with fixed bayonets, the guard which he had re quested of the Mamour. It had not oc curred to him to ask that an approach to the field be kept open. The natives evidently expected that he would drop perpendicularly out of the air and land directly on the circle. Great was their astonishment and disappointment when ne landed at some distance outside the circle of bayonets. In order to reward them for their faithful efforts I gave them the privilege of guarding his avion, whiclv because of a. strong wind. i nau anchored to the ground by means oi ropes tied to the wheels and fas tened to stakes In the ground. "Uuardvjt caretully!" I told them. Don't let anyone touch it." One of them nut his hand on a Ions: Knue wmcn ne had Tri his belt. "Cso one touch taillar!" he said. "Rut ir he go way by himself, no can helD."' I explained to them that there was no rear of this, but they were not con vinced. If there was no danger, why naa i xastened It to the ground with ropes? Their belief was that when Pourpe wanted it to fly he merely told nis oirq to start and off it went. The voyage was continued the fol lowing day and Pourpe' arrived safely at Cairo, the first aviator to make this long and. at that time, daneerous aerial journey. From Cairo he flew to Suez where he met several members of his family, who wept with joy and pride to see him. They had known him as little fellow in short trousers and had not seen him for many years. It was at Suez that he had passed his boyhood and where he learned the Arab tongue. Leaving this city with many regrets, he flew to Port Said. I follcrwinir him Dy train. Mere -our travels in Africa came to an end, and a few days later the little . Morane being carefully packed, we sailed for Marseilles and Paris. Where we should go from there it was lor chance to decide. Milk Bottles Net About $100 a Day for Babies of Bel gium and France. , Wilbur Methodist Episcopal Church Rev. Francis Bura-ette Short, D. T).. Pastor. DIVINE SERVICES 10:3O A. M., SUNDAY, ASSEMBLY HALL, MULTNOMAH HOTEL. Sermon by the Pastor Several distinguished visitors In the city will be present to show their interest in the beginning of this pastorate. Good Music by Chorus Choir A cordial invitation is extended the public, and especially strangers in the city to attend the service. Children will be well cared for in the nursery while mothers are at worship. . COME EALV. BRIDE CHARGES BIGAMY TIE CONTRACTOR ACCUSED OK POS SESSING THREE WIVES. Mildred Lewis Files Snlt for Divorce at Eocene Agstnst Insband 28 Years Her Senior. EUGENE, Or., July 6. (Special.) John Wesley Lewis, tie contractor, of Brownsville, is charged with' bigamy in a divorce complaint 'tied here .by Mildred Lewis, formerly Mildred Diess, of this city, to whom he was married at Vancouver, Wash., in May, 1918. Lewis is 4a years of age and the girl 17. The records of Lane County show that John Wesley Lewis and ' Agnes Mayo were married in this city by William Moll Case, pastor of the Cen tral Presbyterian Church, October S, 1917, and a letter which has been turned over to the authorities purports to have been written by still another wife residing in Salt Lake, Utah, who refers to a baby. Agnes Mayo Lewis is now residing In Portland. Lewis has not been taken into custody. Dis trict Attorney L. L. Ray has been, in communication with the Linn County authorities. The divorce-complaint was filed In Lane County, but there is some oues tion about. instituting prosecution here, as it has not been established , that Lewis and the Diess girl lived to gether here as husband and wife since coming to Lane County from Browns ville, where they made their residence Immediately following their marriage at Vancouver. KELSO BOASTS 175 STARS Service Flag Displayed on the Night of the Fourth. KELSO. Wash.. July . (Special.) Kelso s service flag, shown at a motion picture theater Thursday as a part o the Fourth of July night programme, displayed 173 blue stars for boys of Kelso and vicinity who are in the serv ice. and two gold stars for those who have died while fighting for their country. As a feature of the programme, 'The Service Flag." an appropriate poem written by Miss Gladys Ramsay, a young high school girl of this city was read by Lynn S. Keyes. Pictures of Kelso boys in the service were, also thrown upon the screen. The Fourth of July waa observed very quietly In Kelso, there being no formal celebration. In the evening a grand ball, given by the Kelso Com mercial Club, was the center of interest. Oldest BlininsT Jna?lneer Dead. SEATTLE. July 6. Carl Klein schmidt. 84 years of age. believed to be the oldest mining engineer In the Northwest, died today at his home here. He was heavily interested in Seattle real estate and timber land. D0CT0R SPARK" Portland's Spark Specialist Headquarters Ignition Troubles. 'Specially in your Magneto and Battery No matter what kind it is "Doctor Spark" knows it like a book. Offiees with Gibson Electric Garage & Storage Batterv Co. 12th and Alder II ORTLAND TO SEND LARGE SUM ABROAD NOTABLES TO VISIT CITY Mayor Baker Receives Autographed Photograph of Duchess de Vendome, Sister 'of the Kins of Belgium. In the near future 15000 will be sent from Portland direct to her Majesty the Queen of Belgium, and Madame Poincare, wife of the President of France. The transfer of funds will represent the money collected through the milk bottles set up in this city and vicinity by Gustav de Bretteville, act ing for his sister. Mrs. A. R. Spreckels, of San Francisco, treasurer of the Com mission for Aid Civil and Military, France and Belgium. The care of the milk bottles in Port land has been turned over to the Rot ary Club, as in other Coast cities, but the work of spreading the movement been carried on by Mr. de Brette ville. The milk bottles now set up in Portland are producing about $100 a day, and E. H. Sensenich, cashier of the Northwestern National Bank, of the Oregon Advisory Council of the Cora- mission, is custodian of funds. Mayor Aids In Campaign. Mayor Baker, who has taken an in terest in the milk bottle collections, yesterday received an autographed photograph of the Duchess de Ven dome, sister of the King of Belgium. and who is the honorary president of the commission. The picture was ac companied by a photographic copy of an official certificate signed by the Countess Van den Steen de Jehay, di rector of the commission, certifying that Mrs Spreckels Is fully authorized to work for and to organize and re ceive donations for all kinds of aid. civil and military, in France and Belgium. The Countess de Jehay. speaking for the Queen of Belgium on the Fourth of July, ' made an open expression of thanks to all American women who are aiding in the work. The picture of the Duchess de Vendome and the certifi cate from Countess de Jehay arrived lust recently at Mrs. Spreckels' home in San Francisco, and were forwarded to her brother, who fs organizing the work In the Northwest. Notables to Visit City. Mrs. Spreckels is arranging to have some of the notable men and women who are sent to this country from France and Belgium tour the North west when they arrive. Among those who are tentatively scheduled to reach the Pacific Coast are Lole Fuller, not long ago the "idol of Paris," and Cap tain de Beaufort, author- of "Behind the German Veil." He was at one time a war correspondent and visited Germany in 1915. He is now engaged in lectur ing for the Council of National Defense. Lole Fuller carries a written message from General Pershing to the Pacific Coast. Mrs. Spreckels in writing her brother said of Miss Fuller's proposed visit: ijOle nas a written message from General Pershing to the Pacific Division. She saw him four or five times and talked with him. Th'is Is wonderful, as he is at the front. The first time she heard from him, she re ceived a message saying that the Gen eral could see her and give her a five- minute interview. She stayed two hours and talked with him." Oregon Conncil Active. The Oregon Council of the Commis sion for Aid Civil and Military, France and Belgium, is composed of Mayor BSker, Simon Benson, C. B. Waters, Dr. G.JH. Douglas and Edgar H. Sen senich. A committee of entertainment to arrange the visits of the notables who will be sent here by the commis sion include Mayor Baker and the fol lowing: Municipal Judge George Ross man. Paul R. Kelty, William Adams, Hal M. White, John A. Johnson, Frank J. McGettigan, Larry Keating, Milton W. Seaman, William Pangle, William Ely. The woman hodcarrler has reached New York. On the job she must wear white trousers. Hatpins, hairpins and talcum powder are taboo. iw" ill ' l : t Hart Schaffner & Marx Clothes For the greatest economy and longest service! When we say economy we do not mean cheap in price; you pay a little more for these clothes, but they're wool materials, hand tailored, made to fit and will retain their shape. We have models to fit you, regardless of your build, whether stout, slim, stub or regular. You'll find a big variety of patterns to sleect from at $25, $30, $35, $40 and Up Sam'l Rosenblatt & Co. Copjntsht 1918 Hart Schaffner Bz V:ars The Men's Store for Quality and Service Gasco Building Fifth and Alder CASH PAID TO SEATTLE TRACTION COMPANY ARGUMENT IS AMICABLY SETTLED AT LAST. Read The Oregonian classified ads. Only Point ef Difference te Be Ad justed Now Is Scale of Wages to Be Paid to Employes. , SEATTLE, Wash., July 6. Special.) As a preliminary move toward an amicable settlement between the city and the Puget Sound Traction, Light -& Power Company for the improvement of car service, the traction company today paid the city $145,141.56, which is 2 per cent of the gross earnings of the cora nanv for 1916 and 1917, together with interest. This ends a fight that has been carried through to the Supreme Court, where it now rests. At the same time Mayor Hanson sent to A. W. Leonard, president of the com pany, a communication outlining points in a tentative agreement and making concessions In the way of relieving the company of certain franchise obligations. In tendering payment. President A. W. Leonard, of the traction company, addressed a letter to the. Mayor stat ing what the company will be willing to do to benefit the service. The most serious point of difference appears to be the matter of pay. The Mayor Insists that the city scale be paid on the traction company lines, while Mr. Leonard, In his letter of re ply, declares that the one cent charge for transfers will not create a suf ficient revenue to pay the increased wages. Army Nominations Confirmed. WASHINGTON. July 6. Nominations of eight Brigadier-Generals to be Major-Generals In the National Army, and of 41 Colonels to be Brigadier Generals, were confirmed tonight by the Senate. Columbus, Jewish war relief organizations. fund and other Mrs. T. J. EUGENE. Or., Rldgers Dies. July 6 (Special.) Mrs. T. J. Ridgers, well-known Eu gene woman, died at Newport yester day after a long illness. She was 43 years of age and a native of Harris burg. Linn County. She Is survived by a widower and three daughters. Roosevelt Would L'se Prize Money. WASHINGTON. July S. Theodore Roosevelt today asked Congress to re turn to him the Nobel peace prize fund which he donated to assist In promot ing industrial peace, and which has never been used. He said he proposed to expend it in war relief work through the Red Cross. Y.' M. C. A.. Knights of j; cnr v mum mem Beach Bathing Is Now Great! We Are Pleased to announce that the high water has receded, and that the beach is in excellent condition for bathing;. SPEND SUNDAY IN THE WATER At this ideal Bathing; Resort, the finest in the Northwest. T A JfJ1 I the open air pavilion PELZ and U.lri Vlll Vj his celebrated orchestra will render delightful dance music. Concerts afternoon and evening. Picnic and Outing Grounds No better place near Portland for the family picnic. PACK the basket and bring the kiddies for a day in the open. Various Other Attractions COME EARLY AND SPEND THE DAY , TAKE VANCOUVER CAR Music for the Dinner Dance Formal, informal or impromptu, when dinner is over, we dance. We dance to the music of the Victrola, to the ill-timed efforts of bad pianists dance painfully, but still we dance. The most perfect dance music that we know is furnished by The Etiphona Home Electric, $750 Here is an Electric Player that has all the pep and ginger of the Jazz Orchestra the moaning saxophone, the tinkle of the ukulele are among the startling effects it produces. It is incomparable for dancing, yet to those who love the more serious, more profound music it brings the technique, the artistry of the master pianist, reproducing automatically his finest efforts with unerring accuracy and charm. Your old piano will pay a considerable part, the balance on monthly payments. llgrBAUen j PLAYERS I JEDISONSff -MASON AND HAMLIN PIANOS- MORRISON STREET AT BROADWAY Stores Also at San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles. ALSO WASH SKIRTS $1.95 TO $3.95 Must raise money. K. H. KITTS, 90 Park St. Out of the High-Rent District VTwo Minutes From Washington Street" Next Door to the Telephone Building