The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-31
Mcmillan and Owens AeropIane.

Mr.. J.. L. Mcmillan OF this city Is one OF our
most enterprising citizens. He builds fine
opera houses. runs traction engines, opens
the best streets, lays the best cement walks.
makes the best brick, and sells them cheap.
The fact Is, there Ia no telling what he has
not done for the uplift OF Abbeville. and there
is no telling In what direction his energy and
his skill may break out. UP to last week,
nobody thought that he had the least ides OF
travelling by %aeroplane. But he and Mr.Owen
actually undertook the Job OF sailing In the
air one night last week.
AS we understand some OF the facts are not
totally different from this, at least In some
particulars, Our wireless telephone and
grapevine lines were q little out OF TX that
night, and in consequence OF the disturbed
state Of the weather, our hearing was not the
best. AS we'll as our lines OF communication
would work we believe that Mr.. MCMILLAN
and Mr.. w. E. Owens we're at Dysons sleep
ing the sleep OF the just in the peace OF inno-
cense and In good fellowship with all man.
kind or the night OF the storm At Abbeville.
Mr.. Owen. like Mr.. Mcmillan Is q mighty
good man. For years and years he carried
trains over the Serbosrd Road with the speed
OF the wind, and never a man has he hurt or
killed. The road held him In the highest e.
TEEN. and was sorry for him to quit his Job.
But Mr.. Owen had q presentiment that he
had better quit. AS we understand, the mar
who took his engine went into q wreck on
his first trip.
When the Atlant Ia zephyr irst touched the
building, Mr.. Owen awoke from his deep
sleep, while dreaming OF bursting boilers,
falling t~restles, train wrecks, headon collis-
ions and other exciting events that railroad
men sometimes meet in the ordinary dir
charge OF their duty. Impressed with bis
dream and the fact Of the passing zephyr
during bis waking moment, Mr.. Owen
thought that these things presaged danger or
pointed to impending peril OF some kind:
So thoroughly aroused was he that be
walked Mr.. MCMILLAN and old him OF his
dream and called his attention to the passing
Of the Atlanta zephyr. Mr.McMillan laughed
at him and told him that he must be taking
counsel OF his fesrs-or must be talking In
his sleep. Mr.. Owen still unsatisled said:
"Mr. Mcmillan. I quit the railroad because OF
the danger incident TO train service. l en-
gagged with you in the brick making because
l thought 1t was q safe business-a business
in which I could engage without causing
constant anxiety to my wife. I tell you
this Atlanta zephyr seems to be dangerous"
Mr.. MCMILLAN was asleep again. BY thin
time the zephyr had made an opening In the
roof, n removed a part OF the wall. The
bottom seemed to nave fallen out OF the pass
ing cloud and wss pouring all Its waters Into
that particular room. MI. Owen by that time
had forgotten whether he WAS In bed or was
floating around In . bath tub. The fact Is be
afterward deoovered that he had taken a
shower bath.
Just then Mr.. MCMILLAN begin to sit up and
take q little Interest In the excitement. The
building, not having been anchored. f1oated
of its pillars and sailed through the air and
rain In an easterly direction. 1t commenced
its flight before rising to sufficient height TO
miss any obstru ctions that might be in Its
path.
The sailing OF this %aeroplane, however, for
a time seemed good. When the air ship
struck q tree 1t cam down TO the ground with
such force that Mr.. Owen and the bed Stats
we're suddenly precipitated to the floor. Mr..
Owen about this time, thought OF going to a
neighbor's house wadipg through the sheets
OF water that we're falling and running OF to
the river. He seemed, too, to be a little e1-
Cited by this time and made for the door
which was firmly fastened by the storm.
Mr.. MoAillan called him back. he thought
when a gentleman went calling on bis
neighbor he ought to wear other clothing
q wet night shirt. Impressed with the
suggestion and finding that the door could