The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-01-12
My Big Bird
1t Files Above SaVaaes and
Fills Them With
Terror.
By r. A. mitchell.
Copyright, 1910. by American PresS
Association.

an improvement for q dying 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
10 try them. Not having confidence
either In my fellow inventors or the
practicability OF patents | determined
to take my airship to some UNEMPLOYED
country. attach my new machinery and
make the necessary tests where. II
they were successful. alone would
know about IT, From San Francisco
/ 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-
trivances as might be useful to me
and some that would enable me to con-
clliate the natives among other things
| had monograph machine, toy
horoscopes. an electric hand lamp, q
heldglass and some fireworks.
Having at my request been put
ashore at a point where there was no
human being to be seen. l spent the
first day putting together the parts of
my aeroplane and equipping It My
fuel oils. etc. | placed under a pro-
1ecting rock. storing also my belong
ings, including meat and drink. That
night I slept under the ledge men.
toned. and the next morning wheeling
my machine on to declivity 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 q 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 had at
tended to was one for keeping the
machine on keel I had observed the
maintenance of fixed plane of revo-
luton by the gyroscope and applied
the principle to my wings.
One thing did that no other aero
plane constructor has ever done.
made 1t look like a bird. used a
single plane on each side shaped like
a gull's wings. thus giving my machine
suggested pasteboard beak and the
painting Of the whole In varied colors!
Having satisfied myself that my in
ventions were each and every one a
success. l 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-
element. 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, I
rose higher and sped over a matter Of
twenty miles. Seeing a number of
natives about fire. soaring. l watch
ed them. could see that some were
bound. while others were heaping fuel
on the fire. Feeling sure that can
nlbals were about to make a 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 a 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
the whoops of American Indians.
Hearing such sounds from the throat
of an enormous bird seemed to put
vigor into their legs. and they ran in
every direction.
Descending. I 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 communi-
cate with them. and. In order to invite
their confidence gave them some
trinkets. Then l took my photograph
from my aeroplane and set 1t going
with a darky song. One of the ma
tives pointed to himself. then TO the
as much as to say. There
is a man In there" Going TO the box.
he looked down the horn to see him,
then put his finger in, drawing 1t
quickly out to prevent its being clutch
ed. Not seeing or feeling anything. he
looked at me and put his hand within
a few inches Of the ground to denote
the height of the pygmy supposed to
be IN the box.
Having amused the simple creatures
for awhile with the photograph, l took
up a toy gyroscope and set the wheel
going. This to them was far more
wonderful than making a man sing in
a box. They could conceive OF a mite
of q man being In the box. but they
could not conceive OF a wheel revolv-
ing with but one axis, supported at
any angle I chose to put It, Every one