Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-09-16
Ny! Big Bird.
- O.,
1t Flies Above Savages and
Fills Them With
BY F, A. mitchell,
Copyright. 1910, BY American Press
Association.

Having worked a couple of years on
an improvement for flying machine.
keeping my models securely locked In
my barn that my devices might not
be stolen by other aeroplane inventors,
and having perfected them, desired
to try them. Not having confidence
either in my fellow inventors or the
practicability of patents / determined
to take my airship to some unexplored
country. attach my new machinery and
make the necessary tests where. If
they were successful. i alone would
know about it. From San Francisco
l shipped on board vessel bound for
a certain island in the Pacific ocean,
and after few weeks voyage landed
where ! might experiment to my
hearts content without fear of losing
the benefit of my inventions.
| brought with me such modern con-
trfvances as might be useful to me
and some that would enable me to con-
ciliate the natives among other things
had photograph machine. toy
horoscopes. an electric hand lamp. a
t1eldglass and some fireworks
Having at my request been put
ashore at a point where there was no
human being to be seen, spent the
first day putting together the parts Of
my aeroplane and equipping 1t. MY
fuel oils. etc., placed under a pro-
jecttng rock, storing also my belong
tngs, including meat and drink. That
night slept under che ledge men,
toned, and the next morning wheeling
my machine on to edeclivity by which
] expected to get my start took my
seat. let go. rolled down the incline
and began to rise. -
Having attained height of 1000
feet. devoted myself for few hours
to my Improvements to the exclusion
of all other surroundings and had the
satisfaction to find that without ex-
ception they worked beautifully. That
which set most store by. brake"
acted to a charm. Perhaps such an
implement worked in so thin a medi-
um as the air may not be considered
practicable In any form. This is not
SO. produced an attachment that
| stopped my machine within four
lengths Another matter 1 had, at.
tended to was one for keeping the
machine on keel / had observed the
maintenance Of a fixed plane of revo.
luton by the gyroscope and applied
the principle to my wings.
| One thing I did that no other aero.
plane constructor has ever done. l
made it look like bird. ~ used a
single plane on each side shaped like
ia guli's Wigs. thus giving my machine
the semblance of q bird Fancy. then,
suggested a pasteboard beak and. the
painting Of the whole IN varied colofs!
Having satisfied myself that my in:
ventions were each and every one q
success, permitted myself to look be-
meath me. My eye at once struck large
numbers Of the natives Of the island
running about in wild commotion. By
those looking up at me could dis
Germ the cause. Evidently the bird
monster was at the bottom Of their ex
citement, Some of them were scam.
pering away as fast as their legs
would carry them. others were hiding
in caves and under rocks. while some
were vigorously digging holes to bury
themselves in.
Thinking to take others unawares,
rose higher and sped over a matter OF
twenty miles. Seeing a number of
natives about fire. soaring. watch.
ed them. ] could see that some were
bound, while others we're heaping fuel
on the fire. Feeling sure that can
nibais were about to make q repast
upon human beings. drew near
enough for them to discover my pres.
! ence above them, They seemed to be
paralyzed with establishment. Sinking
to q, point about fifty feet above them
! shouted to them to unbind their pris.
oners. Not understanding my Ian.
guage. they were all the more fright
ened. seized my photograph and
pointing the horn at them. turned on
| luS WuOOpS "a aACl1Sdu
Hearing such sounds from the throat
Of an enormous bird seemed to put
vigor into their legs. and they ran In
every direction.
Descending. / unbound the prisoners
who as soon as their limbs were loosed
dropped on their knees before me and
buried their faces in the dirt. raised
several of them. desiring to commune
cate with them. and. in order to invite
their confidence. gave them some
trinkets. Then took my photograph
from my aeroplane and set it going
with q darby song. One Of the ma
lives pointed to himself. then to the
monograph. as much as to say, There
Is a man In there" Going to the boz
he looked down the horn to see him
then put his finger In. drawing II
quickly out to prevent its being clutch
| "a I ~ Foo1}r<, orrfhipr- h.