Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05

with my aeroplane pointed IS sharply
toward the earth as safety would allow.
came down like a thunderbolt. As
the descent began. the pressure began
To change rapidly with my entering into
heavier and heavier strata OF air and ]
began TO feel pains in my head ana
ears. These pains got worse with every
second OF the descent. and when ] was
within hailing distance of the earth | fct
though something inside my head
would surely burst with the awful tight
ening about my ears and temples. i can
appreciate now the tortures suffered by
medieval martyrs who had bands of iron
gradually frightened about their heads
The recollection OF that descent 40
Lanark makes me sympathize with them
profoundly.
At Philadelphia last November I rose
more than 5000 fee; higher than ~
Lanark and | fell faster on my descent
to earth. but, while my sufferings were
intense. they were not so great as in
Scotland. for had been told OF a method
of counteracting the increasing pressure
and used IL with great success. I had,
shortly before this, been talking to
Clifford b Harmon about some or his
ballooning experiences and had asked him
If he had ever suffered during rapid de-
scents as I did at l.anark.
days" said Harmon. but Capt. Baldwin
told me a way TO avoid it
What is that?" | asked.
Swallow swallow constantly" said
Harmon.
So. on this plunge from the clouds above
Philadelphia when my nerves were
racked 10 pieces and my physical facul-
ties were utterly worn out. suddenly
thought Of this scheme when the pres
sure became painful on my ears, and
the relief was immense. though, of course.
even this eXpedient could not make me
altogether free from the torture in my
head.
An altitude fight of this kind does not
last long according To the time OF the
watch. It seems ages, but my Paragraph
record for my highest clmb-9.S9I feet-
showed that it took me just about nifty
minutes to reach the maximum altitude.
1t could not have taken more than forr
or five minutes to descend. but my plunge
was rapid that the ink could not hov
fast enough from the style OF the instfn-
ment to record, so ] cannot tell exactly.
X
Assuming that the total flight from ~
time of starting TO the time OF landlns
occupied one hour. the physical strain -
such work can he imagined when ] say
that / started in fine condition, fresh and
feeling strong and equal TO anything; yet
land fourteen miles away from my start
ing point / was so utterly worn out and
helpless that ] could not climb out OF
my machine for several minutes. and
when i did manage to summon up suf-
ficient courage and energy to try L
simply Topped over the fusillage and had
to hang to the framework to keep
from falling to the ground
That is the easy life that SO many hun
dreds of imaginative young men are
dreaming of today. That is the new and
intoxicating form of pleasure, seemingly
without effort and without worry or strain
of any kind.
The next time any of my readers sees
an aeroplane soaring gracefully aloft like
an easy-going gull and feels inclined to
envy the blissful peace and freedom OF
the man in the seat, let him remember
these things and be satisfied TO stay
comfortably on the ground until flying IL
made n good deal easier and vast deal
sa fer than it is today.
Copyright 1911. by Henry NJ. Nicely. Copyright
in Great Britain and Canada. All rights
reservedl