Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1911-06-29

a message. You know Bluffton Is 60
ing to celebrate tomorrow in the Wild
est and wooliest way. One OF the
events OF the day is to be an aeroplane
flight from the fair ground by an ex-
pert aviator"
well, what of that?"
why he's coming across the lake
and expects to land on these grounds.
He is some daredevil inventor who's
been working for a year on his ma
chine, and thinks he's got the most
perfect one ever built. He agrees to
fly across the lake and back again"
Good Maybe wen have a ripple
Of excitement here, after ALL"
Let us hope that 1t will not be a
tragedy"
The Fourth of July dawned bright
and beautiful. Save for the distant
booming Of cannon, which marked the
beginning of the celebration at Bluff
ton, and the fitful sputtering of few
packs of firecrackers down about the
boat-house. no unusual sounds greet
ed the rising sun. Yet 1t developed
into day of jollifcation, of patriotic
demonstrations, of stirring music by
the band, of Haunting banners, of ex-
citing boat races and other sports.
1t was early in the afternoon. The
water carnival was in progress, and
those of the party who were not in
boats were lined up on the pier All
of a sudden a great shout went up:
Look! Look the airshipl Hurrah!"
All eyes were instantly turned In
the direction of Bluffton. Clearly out
lined against the crystalline arch of
the sky they beheld the promised aero
plane, sailing like bird through the
air. 1t was thrilling sight. Every
thing else was forgotten, and the at
tention of the jewellers was absorbed
In what to them was an unusual spec
tacle.
The flying machine was approach
ing, yet taking time to execute some
startling maneuvers for the entertain
ment of the spectators, now soaring
In wide, graceful circles, now swoop-
ing down toward the lake, only to
rise again in spiral gyrations, now de-
scribing the figure eight, and in other
ways showing how perfectly 1t was
controlled by the man at the lever.
Minute after minute the onlookers
watched 1t in awed silence. Then,
suddenly. there was an explosion of
sharp EXPLANATIONS and cries of
alarm, merging quickly into horri-
fed groan, in which the whole crowd
1t all happened in an
instant. Something had gone wrong
with the aeroplane-the aviator had
lost control. The machine tilted
collapsed-and shot down toward the
lake. shapeless mass of debris. One
second there was glimpse of the
daring aviator plunging headlong
through the air. The next he struck
the water and disappeared.
Women shrieked and mne shouted
hoarsely. Pandemonium reigned for
a few minutes. but 1t quickly subsid-
ed when 1t was discovered that no
loss of life had attended the accident.
The aviator came to the surface,
gasping and choking, and was hauled
aboard launch that CHANGED to be
near. He could not |
speak, but was apparently unhurt His
rescuers took him ashore. Marjorie
was among those on the pier.
AS they helped the man out of the
boat she saw his face. She screamed
and staggered toward him.
Chester Chester! My Cod is 1t
your"
He looked at her in blank surprise.
Then his face lighted up with smile.
"Marjorie!" he articulated. He tore
himself loose from the men who were
supporting him, and clasped her close
in his wet arms
1t was the browning sensation OF
the day. An hour later. when the re.
united wife and husband were alone
together In the library, they made up
all their differences.
Let us both forgive and forget"
said Marjorie. 81 never intended to
hirt with"
81 know 1t. sweetheart was a
brute to accuse you. This past year
has been the most miserable of my
life. half hoped that confounded
would be the death of me-"
OIL. nj