The Detroit times., 1909-07-21
TAKES DRINK AND
NEARLY LOSES LIFE
Alexander Williams, Who Was Dash
ed to Earth Finds That Liquor
and Aeroplanes Don't Mix.
by w. G. SHEPHERD.

III
MINEOLA. l.. l.. July 2l.-LiquoI
ma aeroplanes. like liquor and a lot
pf other things. don't mix.
This lesson came. like sabbath
morning sermon. from the skies. wren
Alex. Williams. in the Curtiss flyer
lgas nearly dashed to death.
He mad mad one drink-just one.
II was the first aeroplane casualty
lDf the year.
The landlord at the little hotel al
dineola awakened us all at 4;3O In
he morning. Curtiss had left call
for that hour and intended to take
flight and then give instructions 10
wo pupils-the first aeroplane pupils
the United States.
Breakfast was to be put OF until ar
er the flights.
Il Glenn Curtiss, the maker OF the ma
s.hine. and its master. left the hotel
Immediately for the field, with A. 3
tYillard. one Of his pupils-to-be.
4 Alex Williams, the other prospec'
live pupil. walked into the barroom,
rhere hungry reporter had coaxed
a glass Of milk out OF the sleepy land
ord.
Just One Glass.
n "Benedictine." said Williams.
II The landlord took down the bottle
N nd found that II contained just one
a lass OF benedictine. Williams 1ok-
|ngIy snapped his fingers as II he were
n l:gins the last drops Of liquor out
M the bottle.
|. He drained the glass and hurried
t,yay 10 the fleid.
Il Just one glass.
II Ten minutes later Curtiss was soar
Ing In wonderful circles and figures OF
t-dipping and rising-in his beauti-
Eul machine. He went TO height OF
|byer 100 feet. glided "down hill' on
\ he air. until IL seemed his machine
you'd strike the earth. only to soar
II Gain with all the freedom Of bird.
.1clish sparrows thar were flying
|bver the field by hundreds gave fright
|sned cries as the roaring giant OF
|r.rd approached them. Finally ne de-
scended. lightly as feather:
Then. from the far end OF the neid.
be crowd saw the machine rise again
Ind come toward the beholders. 1t
lew low and straight and settled down
| . earth, gently.
When the beholders saw that the
|:river In this flight was not Curtiss
hut willard they realized that they
Lad Witnessed the first lesson ever
iyen In an aeToplane I'm the United
Btates.
willard climbed of the seat. rather
rembly. but triumphant.
Il was williams turn.
II was williams turn.
The machine was drawn back 10
|he far end of the field and he mount
|bd the seat.
aNow. go straight and low. Don't 80
Fay" warned Curtiss, the teacher.
The aeroplane dashed along the
lass and then left the earth. II be-
Ian to climb, higher and higher Then
II started to curve. The crowd saw
he man at the wheel working des
kerately. turning his planes ana ruo-
[,ers this way and that.
Acts Like Drunken Man.
The aeroplane reeled through the
bir like a drunken man. but always
climbing. climbing. 1t was running
! way and running upward. upward
kn a spiral curce.
Horror dried all throats. Not even
L-urtiss moved. You didn't have 10
4 now ANYTHING about aeropianes I'd
Ice that the rider was to have terri
Nc fall When 1t came the machine
jlted downward. at one end. 1t sno.
through the air like an arrow am
[rrumbied up in a mass OF debris. ABOUT
no senseless form OF Williams.
"The man took a drink. did ne!
asked an official of the Aeronautic so
Eiety, which had purchased the aero. aero
blane well, that one drink SHOWS
| nat there was nothing the matter
|with the aeropiane OF Its principie''
The matter was with the man.
"A drink on an empty stomach, and
then his first aeroplane flight Poor
FELLOW. ~ 4. NJ.
!" The man who drinks at all Is al
vavs sure to drink just at the time
when he ought not to-" was the maxi.
nun OF a merchant prince, who useu
|, - hire teetot hlers. as far as possipie'