THE COOS BAY TIMES, MARSHFIELD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1911 EVENING EDITION.
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AEROPLANE
ADVENTURE
By
vJ.AIUMSTiRjONG DRJBXEL
II. My Closest Calls In the Air
ICopyrlRht. 1DU, by Henry M. Ncoiy.
' Copyrlaln In Uronl Iirltiiln and Canada
All rights rexcned.J
TO every mini who flies there
conicH the moment when fate
hangs by n llliny thread, when
n hnlr's lirenillh ono wny or
the other mean-,llfe or death. I know
of nothing In huninii experience whkb
can b-nvo so Indelible nn ImproM'don In
bo abort a Hpncp of time. With the
ncroplnnc as It N built today thce crlt
Icnl momentH lire really only" the In
fltillcttlmal fraction of n moment. The
danger Is reached and In it Hash It Is
passed safety or otherwise. There Is
no time for thinking. Everything must
tic done by instinct.
True, we do inako voluntary and log
ical movements when wc get Into theo
dcrnpes. but I bellevo that thc-io move
mentH n.ro always made too Into to do
nny real good and that the first In
etluctlve motion, without reason nml
without thought, is what decided tho
outcome of the moment.
. Sometimes wo hnvo n warning1 of
what Is coming, and In such Instances
we can prepare ourselves and meet the
danger with a plan of action logically
thought out and calculated to meet tlio
veru a strain on the planes that It la
extremely dangerous.
I think, on this day I speak of, that
I was tiirnln the machine In her own
length or even shorter. I wns paying
not the slightest attention to the nngle
at which I wns Hying: nil my thoughts
wore on the little qlrcles 1 wns cutting,
through the air. when suddenly I felt
myself slipping on my seat, and I
realized In a flash that my pianos
wore dangerously near the perpendic
ular. There wns no time to think. Ono
instant more nml she would have lost
her balance and come crashing down
sideways to the ground 1W) feet below.
Instinctively I threw my weight to
tlm high side. My hand nt once touch
ed the bottom of the frnmework n cir
cumstance that will give some Idea of
my great angle. I took my feet from
the steering lover, braced the left ono
against llio side of the framework,
shoved the steering post over with my
knees to wnrp the left wing and help
to right her nml then I closed my
eyes and waited for things to happen.
Hut, fortunately for me. 1 had done
the right things Just In the nick of
time. An Inllultestlinnl fraction of a
i kept drawing n.os'icit and closer aiioCi run center
FLUNG AT A UREA I AMJI.E A I.I. HIE TI.M.E."
emergency In the beat wny. At other eeond later would have been uselesg,
times the dnpger comes and Is past be- for 1 nm convinced that I caught the
foro wo really realize what Is happen- I machine Just as she was passing the
Jng, and In these instances It Is only 'critical angle, after which there would
IlioIiiHtinct tnnt oomes witn long train-i imve been nothing to Htiptort her In
lag In flying that pulls us through In
safety.
I linvo personally had ninny thrilling
experiences in tho air, but there nro
llie air, and 1 should have gone crash
lug downward. As swiftly ns It had
come the danger hnd passed; thu ma
chine bad righted herself, and I opened
two instances that havo left upon my my eyes to find myself sailing nwny on
memory stronger impr sslous than all . nn even heel safe, ullve, and thanking
the others. I regard them us my two God for It.
closest calls. I looked beneath mo and saw that
lloth of these thrilling moments camo ' the mechanics wero' gazing up nt me
1o me while I was flying for prnctluo with no Idea of what I had Just passed
nt my school nt Itcnulleu, nenr South'
ampton, England. My pnrtner, MncAr
die, and I have nn Ideal Hying grounds
there. It Is seven miles from the mil
road station, with perfectly flat coun
try, smooth and clear except for ono
Hue of telegraph wires.
My Closest Call of. All.
My closest call enmo to mo In a most
uudramntlc wny. There were no spec
tators savo ouly MacArdlo and our
mechanics, and I think that Mac was
tho only ouo of them who really saw
ray danger and knew that ho was
near to losing a pnrtner.
I was flying low with tho Hlerlnt
XI., with the anlliiuated type of wlns.
I started to circle the placo In wide,
easy curves, without any detlulto ob
ject In view, I found tho maehlno
wns blinking well at thu turns, and I
became curious to see Just how small
ii loop I could make with her, bo I
gradually narrowed tho clrclo In which
I was flying. There seemed no limit
lo her possibilities; I felt ns though I
could turn her on her beam ends if I
wanted to, nnd so, without thu slight
t thought of danger, I kept drawing
closer ami closer nbout tho center, fly
ing nt n great angle all thu time bu
cnuso tbo clrclo bad becoinu so small
that there was no straightaway flight
It was a case of Jam tho rudder over
hard and see how closu she would
ouio about,
It may be well to explain that the
nieriot banks automatically when go
ing about n turn that is, tho far side
rises and the near side falls until tho
machine is frequently tilted at an
angle of forty-uvu degrees. This can,
of courso, bo prevented by warping
through. Mae, however, looked as
white as n ghost. He knew.
Naturally my nerves were nbout
gone. My heart was thumping like a
triphammer, nnd 1 could scarcely get
my breath from the excitement. Hut
I made up my mind that Mae was not
going to set' mo ijult. so. ns though 1
had Intended Just what happened, 1
went Milling nwny to the far sldo of
the grounds nnd enme back again In
wide, easy, sweeplug curves that land
ed mo at the feet of my excited part
ner In perfect style.
I did not fly again that day,
lost Is Cloudland.
My other narrow csenpo was the re
sult of a fluke, nnd 1 was saved by a
fluke. To this day I have not been
nblo to figure out why either of the
flukes happened. 1 wns practicing nt
ilcnulleu for height; altitude work hnd
nttracted me from the beginning, nnd
I practiced constantly. In fact. I had
soveral times exceeded the world's
record for height ns It stood then, but
could not claim It oiHclally. as I used
my own barograph and nnerold and
tho flights were made with Mae aud
tho mechanics as tho only watchers.
On this day L went up toward even
ing. It was one of thoso gray days
with a thin mist over everything and
u damp feeling in tlie nir that sug
gested an Impending fog. I should
have known better than to attempt to
climb under such conditions, but I
was keyed up to It and 1 did not want
to put It off.
Tho mechanics turned tho propeller
over and I was off. Tho englno was
running with that smooth purring that
is music to the ears of an aviator, and
without any Incident whatever 1
tho wlugs and keeping her on n more climbed to'souiethimr llio noon fM.
vea keel, but to do this puts so se- wuich wns then above tb. record, and atu ou Mreiw tadr
wns debating whether to try for nny
moro nltltudo with the darkness of
evening gathering when my engluo
began to sputter nnd miss In n way
thnt sounded as though thero were no
more gasoline In the tank.
This, however. I knew could not be
the cnue of the trouble. The tank
hnd been well lllled before I started,
nnd wlint the trouble, wns 1 have nev
er ascertained, hut I felt the power
beginning to give out. aud 1 shoved
my steering post forward Just about
in time to get the machine's nose
pointed down when the engine stopped
entirely. There was nothing for It but
to plane down and get as near back
home us possible.
With the machine pointed right for
a long spiral glide. 1 looked below to
getMny hearings, nnd that Is whero I
got my llrst fright The mists had
gathered so thickly that I could not
see a single glimpse of the earth
Thero wns nothing beloW me but a
.Mllllowy sea of clouds. Impenetrable to
the eye.
I blnmed myself in forcible Innnunge
for my folly In imt taking more care
ful note of my position on the upward
climb. Now It wns too late. I hnd
not the .slightest Idea what part of the
country I was over nor In what direc
tion I was headed, but I had all I
roulrt do to take enro of the machine,
rushing downward through spnee ns I
wns at the into of seventy miles an
hour or more. I thought of nothing
except the steering nnd Instinctively
tried to keep her going in n general
wny In nbout the same wide circles
that I had followed on my Journey up.
Saved by a Fluke.
Foon I entered the rlouds nnd began
to catch glimpses of the earth. I
thought I saw something thnt looked
like one of the buildings on our
Vrounds. nnd I steered accordingly,
aiming to plane down o as to have
plenty of room In the open land that
stretched for miles nwny from the
hangars.
Suddenly I plnnrced through th
mists Into the ordinary atmosphere of
the earth's surface, nnd below me
there was nothing but trees, trees,
trees, ns fnr ns the eye could rench. I
seemed to bo directly over tho heart of
n limitless wood. To Innd In the
branches meant certain wreck. I had
no power In tho engine to give mo n
chnnce to look nbout me for no open
ing. There wns nothing to do nppnr
ently but to plunge down nmong tho
forest giants nnd trust to luck thnt the
wreck of the mnchlne would not cut
me up badly nnd that my fnll from tlw
top of whnlever tree I lnndcd In would
leave my features In good enough
shnpe for Identification nt the Inquest.
I took n deep swoop downward nnd
then desperntelv turned the aeroplane's
no.se upward to coast as high as tho
momentum would tnke me and senrch
for n clearing In thin momentary re
spite. I plunged downward for a hundred
feet nt n terrible rate; then at the mo
ment of turning up my heart nearly
stopped beating ns I heard n choking
cough from the engine, then another,
then nnother. nnd suddenly the br-r-r-r
of the cylinders as tho explosions came
with full force, and the propeller, get
ting Its grip on the nlr. put on all Its
power, nnd I climbed safely nwny from
the treetops. overvthlng working per
fectly nnd once more In control of n
safe and efficient piece of machinery.
I sailed close to tie ground until I rec
ognized some houses over the edge of
thu wood. I wnrf more than twenty
miles from home: but. with the englno
working smoothly, the trip back wns
mere child's pln'y, and I was soon on
thu gronnd ngnln. being alternately
cursed and hugged by Mac. while the
mechanics trundled the Itlerlot to the
hangar.
The Eternal Question.
They aro never pleasant to talk
nbont these narrow , escapes. It is
best to forget about them ns soon
after they have occurred ns possible,
for they get on the nerves, and things
thnt get on the nerves are not good In
aviation. It has nlways struck mo as
odd that almost tho first question the
nverago man will ask nftcr bo has met
mo Is;
"What was the narrowest escape
from death you havo ever had?"
This Is simply nnother manifesta
tion of that morbid desire for thrills
nt nnother rami's expense by demnnd
Ing fonts the aeroplane was never In
tended to perform. The neroplnne has
Its limitations, nnd they nre. so fnr.
very narrow ones. It will do certnln
simplo tilings very well nnd If not
pushed ton hard is not n great deal
moro dangerous than manufacturing
dynamite or being picked out by the
Itlnck Hand.
The late Rnlph Johnstone recognized
this clenrly, nnd he once snld. "It wll
get us nil somo day." "It" got him
Just ns It has got many another good
man who Is trying to advance the
now science, but these nre the things
that It Is best for us not to think
about.
I remember when the first news of
Johnstone's death reached me. I wns
dining with Grahnme-White in Phil
adelphia. Whlto hnd bad n hard after
loon flying in the teeth of a flufcy
lnd that would have kept any oihtr
man safetly housed in the hangar.
Reporters wanted to know If it would
keep Whlto from flying next day.
"No," said White. "These things
cannot stop us. We must do our work
Just tho same. Rut such accidents
bring homo to us tho nwful danger
that wo are constantly running, and
wo havo to keep constantly pushing
such thoughts out of our minds."
Yet. as 1 sny. the average man. after
be has talked to an aviator five min
utes, will ask:
What was the narrowest escape
Who Wants This Grand
JERSEY BULL?
Non-U Humphrey, tho well-known Dairy nnd cattleman of Eugene, writes n letter to Tho
Times, nsklng tho editor to propnro nn ndvcrtlseinent offering for uulo his lino Jersey bull "FLY.
ING FOX." Ho encloses n pedlgrco and nn ndv. which says:
"I am offering for snlo ono of tho finest Imported bulls to bo found in tho world. A. P. Walk
er pronounces him n wonderful bull. Ho Is ensy worth $1,000. For a quick ensh sale, tho first
chock for $500 gets him. Ho Is n most beautiful solid fawn.color with blnck points; very gentle
nnd lino disposition. Look nt the pedigree Correspondence Follcltod."
But I think the bcBt ndvertlsoment Is part of Mr. Humphrey's lottcr In which ho says:
"I nm offering for snlo to the dairymen nround Mnrshilcld nnd Coos Dny, ono of tho
grandest bred Jersey bulls thnt tho "Jslnnd of Jersey" over produced. I bought him for myself, but
circumstances nre such thnt I deslro to Bell him nt n great sacrifice, this bull, 11 months old, im
ported from tho island Inst year, will mnlto great money for tho dnirymon of Coos bounty. I havo
never offered lTlm less thnn $500, but I nm now going to offor to tnko $350 spot ensh for him
f. o. b. Etigeno If taken nt once. I consider lilm well worth $1,000 todny. A. P. Wnlkor, tho
greatest Importer of Jerseys from tho Island, Bays that ho is n wonderful hull. It Is nn opportunity
thnt somo of your dairymen ennnot nfford to let pass. Whoever gets him finds tho best bargnlu
In Oregon thnt I know of. I enclose also his pedigree.
"I, forgot to sny thnt dam of tho bull Is n very lnrgo milker nnd tested 7 2-10 April 11, 1911.
You will see from this nd. thnt I havo reduced my prlco to $350.00 In order to mnko n quick salo
for ensh. The bull Is very kind nnd ensy handled, nnd nil right In ovory wny. I nm now leaving
tho wholo matter to you."
Dairymen Interested may bco Pcdigreo nnd photographs of the bull nt Tho Times' office-. Address
nil correspondence tq
NORMS HUMPHREY
EUGENE, OREGON. R. F. D. NUMBER 3.
MARSHFIELD'S POPULAR.
FAMILY HOTEL
THE LLOYD
Rntcs reduced to: Day 50c, 75c nnd
$1.00; week $2.00 to $5.00. House
keeping apartments with gns ranges
$10.00 to $18.00 fier month. FREE
BATHS E. W. SULLIVAN, Prop.
Tho cost of ropnlrlng tho
wiring in our building In
Mnrshfleld wns nlno dollars.
'Tho ownor nt onco got a ro
ductlon of Fifty Dollnrs per
year In tho Insurance.
Think it ovor.
Coos Bay Wiring Co.
PHONE 237-J
"THE FRIEND OF COOS RAY'
S. S. ALLIANCE
EQUIPPED WITH WIRELESS
CONNECTING WITU THE NORTH HANK ROAD AT PORTLAND
Sails from Coos Bay for Eureka, Friday, Sep
v I ember 29th, at service of tide.
NORTH PaJIFIO STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
PHONE 44 O. F. McGEORGE, Agent
Have That Roof Fixed
NOW
See CQRTHELL
FAST AND COMMODIOUS
Steamer Redondo
EQUIPPED WITH WIRELESS
Sails from San Francisco for Marshfield, Wed
nesday, September 27
INTER'OCEAN TRANSPORTATION COMPANY'.
Phono 44 C. F. McGEORQE, Agent.
Phono aiai
WILL EXCHANGE My ?2,100,
equity In n 5-room bungalow, lot
. J!0x92, Woodstock Add., Portland,
Ore. Valued at $3,000 for acreage
nonr or proporty In Mnrsiifioid. Or.
I nm tho owner of this bungalow,
and shall only deal direct with
ownor of'praporty. If you l:viw of
any ono wishing to exchango hnve
them wrlto L. J. Justen, 494
Morrlsson St., Portland, Oregon.
T. J. SCAIFE
A. II. HODQINS
Marshfield Paint
(Sb Decorating Co.
Estimates
Furnished
MARSHFIELD,
Phono 14)L Orogon
EQUIPPED WITH WIRELESS
Steamer Breakwater
ALWAY8 ON TIME,
SAILS FROM PORTLAND AT O A. SI. ON SEPTEMBER 3. 8, 13,
10 AND '20 AT H P. M. ,
SAILS FROM COOS RAY AT SERVICE OF THE TIDE ON SEP"
TEMHER H, 10, 10, 2!l AND 30.
L. 11. KEATING, AGENT PHONE MAIN 8Mi
Fancy Dancing
Exhibition
nt MASONIC OPERA HOUSE
FRIDAY EVENING
SEPTEMBER 29TH
For the Reneflt of .Mnrshfleld Public
4 Library.
Enjoy an Interesting and entertain
ing evening and help n worthy j
cause. Reserved Seats on i
Sale at Tho Dusy
Corner.
-r
FAST SERVICE TO ROSEBUR.G
Our nutog, leaving Marshfield at O o'clock every morning, con-,
nect xlth tho evening train to Portland. Faro $0.00.
COOS HAY ROSEHURG STAGE LINE.
OTTO SCHETTER, Agent, C."P. DARNARD,
120 MARKET AV Marshfield. Agent, ROSEDURG, Ore.
PnONS 11
Abstracts, Real Estate, Fire
and Marine Insurance
Title Guarantee and Abstract Co.
HENRY SENGSTACKEN, Mgr.
Coqullle Office Phone 191 Marshfield Office 14-J.
FarniB Timber Coal and Platting Lnnda a peclalty.
Qenaral Agents "EASTSIDB"
TICKETS
25, 35 nnd 50 CENTS
nEARY's gun snop
Complete line of Bicycle supplies,
second-band blcyoles for sale. Guns,
bicycles, etc., repaired.
Umbrellas covered and repaired.
Beaver Hill Coal
MOUNT DIABLO 1ND JOSSON CEMENT.
The best Domestic and Imported brands.
Plaster, Lime, Brick and all kinds of builders material
HUGH McLAIN
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
OFFICE, SOUTH BROADWAY. PHONB 801
E. HANDEL, Prop.
No. 007 No. Front St. Phone 180-R
1 The Times Does Job Printing
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