The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-07-13

The alrShlp now cOOped dL Iolt
Meyer, just out of Washington, looks
something like large white crane
such as frequent the swampy places
along the streams Of the piedmont
region Of the CarolinaS during wet
seasons, or a big beetle, or fly, called
by Southern youngsters, snake-Walt-
er. It is long and 1.-the and thin Ill ITS
parts. l imagine if Col. A. L. Smith,
of Charlotte, or Senator BrlstoW, OF
Kansas, were to come forth clad III
nothing but pajamas and sail away,
with arms outstretched to the finger
tips. feet drawn close together at the
heels and toes, and legs extended
straight blind, and face adorned
with a pair of heavy, zinc-colored
eve glasses. he would resemble very
much an aeroplane in action.
The Fort Meyer Trials.
The W:ights are here to convince
the government that they can dy.
The tests are being made at Fort
Never, where Uncle Sans army and
navy officers can watch them. Every
afternoon. at half-past five, the fields
about Arlington, and Fort Meyer:
are alive with people to see the avl-
atOrs aviate.
I had no idea the masses would
take so much interest in the flights
as they do. The first afternoon the
crowd was 50 great that the electric
railways could not take care OF 1t.
The scramble for point OF vantage
was so desperate that a weakllng
was in danger Of being trampled
upon. All. kinds Of citizens went
out. The United States Senate ad-
journed for the occasion.
That day, however, one and all
were disappointed; there was no
flight. The machine had not been put
in perfect condition and the wind
was wrong.
That night, after returning to their
several homes, removed great quantl-
ties of Virginia dust from their per-
sons, had dinner, and lighted their
cigars, the bugs began to croak.
It's a fake,' said big Kentucky
bug. II do not believe he can hy.'
1.-THE whole affair was poorly
managed" declared a wilted bug.
II am from Missouri. They must
show me-
"If the Wrights fly" said a red
headed bug from Colorado, II will
see the crowd up
"Don't knock so hard and so read
ily," said a Tennessee bug. 1--WE
must give them a fair trial. Of
course I do not think I would vote
(. for any appropriation just this min
ute, not for several days, at least,
until the skin the\ hot sun burned
away from my nose grows back, but
am willing to wait.'
"WeIl, if they get me out there
any more they will have to haul me
in a refrigerator car" said an Ar
kansas bug.
These were big bugs, congresslon-
al beetles, who had gone out to get
courage to base a vote on. All were
pessimistic. Harvey Helm, Of the
Blue Grass State, had lost all hope
of ever seeing anybody fly this side
Of the river Jordan. But. his friend,
George Rauch, of Indiana, was optl-
mistic. He saw no reason for COM
plant.
"Unfortunately.' said he. "we
ali got hot and dirty this afternoon.
and mad. We will feel better in the
morning.
':That is the bright side Of the
picture, " said Edward Taylor, of
Colorado.
~ shall wait until the thing flies
before I 60 again. said Judge De-
Armond. "I think can see the per-
formance from my room window. "
The entire city was disappointed
that the Wrights did not fly the hrst
day. Hundreds of persons who could
not 60 nearer sat OH house tops IN
the city and waited patiently. -Four,
five. six and seven o'clock passed,
and there vas no sign Of the alrshlp.
Many a flce had been blis!ered IN
the boiling sun.
The Second Day Was the Same.
The second day of the trials was
very little better but the crowd was
not so great. The ship sailed of that
afternoon but soon fell and broke a
runner. But the very fact that a
although it was very short