Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-04-16
SANTOS DUMONT'S
LOVE AFFAIR
Daring ClO0d Feeler BrOught to Earth by
California Girl

Miss Lurlina Spreckles is the
daugter of c.. A. Spreckles, the sugar
king. In her is embodied everything
that has charmed more than one for
elgper into seeking his bride on these
shores. She is pretty, accomplished
and unaffected. She is heiress to
many millions and will one day be
one Of America's-or some other
country's-richest women. She is a
trained musician, skillful with the
whip, something of a golf player and
a deep student of paintings and lit.
erature.
M. Santos, as he likes to call him
self, has much more to commend him
than many a man who comes to
America with his heart upon his
sleeve. He is Of a ~fabulously rich
family, is generous in charitable
work, Is a deep thinker-all Of those
in addition to being the most daring
and skillful aeronaut in the world.
The two young people, each with
so much to their credit, met in Paris
six years ago. And the struggle has
been going on pretty much ever since.
Miss Spreckles was not without
admirers in Paris, but when NJ. San.
tos Joined them nearly all others
stepped aside.
Parts Hair in Middle.
Santor-Dumont is really a rare
bird" At first glance one would say
that he had just stepped out Of a
comic weekly Of a decade ago when
there were slim dudes" He is frail
looking, with a languld air and a high
collar, and his hair is parted in the
middle. He is about FIVE feet six
inches tall, and every inch and every
ounce nerve and muscle,
eAt this time the young a%eronaut's
star was just beginning to rise. He
had only completed the airship known
as Santos-D umont No. /, When on
September 20, 1898, he sped 1900 feet
into the air from the Jardin d'Accll-
matation, in Paris, Miss SpreVkles
was on hand to clap for pleasure.
Suddenly her delight was changed
to alarm. The balloon was seer to
collapse, and come tumbling to
earth. Great was her poy, however.
when she found that the a~eronaut
had marvelously escaped from the
wreck unhurt.
How could Miss Spreckles help lik.
ing a mar with the pluck of Santos.
Dumont? He quickly built airship
No. 2, only ia fall a second time and
escape unhurt. He built the No. g..
Made Trip Safely.
At $3.50 in the afternoon of Novem.
Der 10, 1899, Santos-D umont mounted
this machine in the Champ de Mars,
made for the Eiffel Tower, clrcled
the structure and came down safely
in the Bols de Boulogne.
In August, 1901. in attempting a
circle of the tower he lost control Of
the alrship, dashed against the roof
OF the Hotel Trocadero and once
more was wrecked.
Yet only twenty-five days later he
was ready with the Santos-Dumon
No. 6. and on October 10, 1901, won
M. Deutsch's prize of 500, 700. This
small fortune was generously distri.
buted to the poor OF Paris and to the
assistants who had helped him IN
his great trip,
Hardly had Santos umont gained
these laurels In Paris than he was
summoned TO Monte Carlo by the
Prince OF Monaco to attempt a still
greater feat. the crossing of the Medt
terranean Sea.
There for two months he was feted
and admired. Even the recluse Eu
genie, former empress of France
was drawn from retirement TO visit
his famous workshop. Thither also
went royalties like the king Of Bel
GUM and ardent republicans like
Henri Rochefort.
Attends to His Knitting.
In curious contrast to his daring In
the air are some OF NJ. Santos's other
traits. He does not spend his spare
pumng at a cigarette or in sip.
ping %innocuous drinks. He devoted
himself to embroidery. TO knitting,
and even TO the more dimcult accom-.
pllshment Of making tapestries.
II like II and always have" he
says. 1T is a relaxation"
AZ gaufaaf hodroom too IL "A won. :