The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-09-04
FIRST CONGRESSMAN TO FLY
JOHNSON OF kENTCCki TAKES
CHANCE WITH LTEt r. ARNOLD.

The Wind Was Blowing Half a Gale and
the Spectators Expected q Disaster
But johnson Il q Fataiist and Would
he Happy to 60 In In a Hurricane.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3--The first mem
ber Of Congress 10 own and fly an aero
plane will be Representative Ben johnson
Of Kentucky. He has the fever in it's most
pronounced form and his friends predict
that it won { he long before he has BIZ
plane and hangar n his own and is a
familiar figure in the sky above the ma
tional capital.
Out at College Park. the army aviation
headquarters. they are still talking about
Mr.. johnson s sensational flight last week
when he went up with Lieut.. Arnold. Mr.
johnson appeared at the aviation field
with official permission from the War
Department to make flight. Conditions
were particularly unfavorable The wind
was blowing half a gale. the flags on the
army hangers were standing out straight
and the weather was threatening All
this was carefully explained to Mr.. john
eon and he was urged to wait for better
day
1T is dangerous" somebody said.
That does not interest me-" Mr.. John
son replied. and Lieut. Arnold. who heard
the remark, Immediately hoped into the
Wright flyer and beckoned to the Repre-
sentative. The engine was started and
they we're Of.
For many a long day the mechanicans
and others who saw Arnold and johnson
sailing around tho field will talk about
their performance. They had not been
up more than two minutes when the am
bulance corps stationed at the park was
called into action. It was not formality
either. II was thought they would be
needed.
The aeroplane dipped and swerved dis
tressingly. 1t fell into air pockets and
climbed out again. reeled at the turns
trembled on the glides and behaved out
rageously. II looked every minute a. IL
there would be a catastrophe. But whom
the plane finally landed after a quarter
Of an hour Of hair raising evolutions Mr.
johnson stepped out calm and unruffied.
Lieut.. Arnold for a pleasant
time. expressed the hope that he would
be able to take long cross- country flight
1t should be explained right here that
Mr.. johnson is a fatalist. Whether be-
cause Of this. or in spite Of it, he is most
character. He would he per-
fectly happy TO go up in flying machine
in hurricane. convinced that il it hap
pened to be his time to die he would die
then and there; and that IL it was not he
would live through anything the elements
had to offer. He has often told his friends
and those who know him best doubt
him least-that if he knew death we're
sitting at his elbow. intending to pay
call III five minutes. he would not even
raise his hand to prevent the visit
What is written is written is his
creed, and what shall be, shall be- his
belief.
comes from Bardstown, where they make
all Of the time and raise hell
good deal OF II Mr. johnson identified
himself with the law and order element
long before he came to Congress and
made himself particularly obnoxious TO
folks on the other side. One pleasant
afternoon four men met MIR. johnson
and showing four wide muzzled guns up
against his chest ordered him to get out
auences. The consequences in Kentucky
are usually serious.
You are too generous said Mr.. John
son as he began shooting. He killed two
of the four. seriously wounded one and
the other ran away.
IF II had been written that ! should
he killed them he said afterward, Il
would have been killed. Otherwise there
was no chance for me to be harmed"
In view Of Mr.. Johnsons somewhat
peculiar beliefs on the subject of life and
death his friends are looking forward
with much interest and considerable ap-
prehension TO the time when, owning an
aeroplane Of his own they belle, e he
will before long-he will cut didos in the
air above the city of Washington.
Mr., Johnson looks mighty little like a
sensation performer He is a six footer
tall. spare and angular. His face ia
deeply lined and he has small steel gray.
ice cold eyes
Somehow or other peoplelknowlh lhe means
business. II was only a few weeks ago,
just before the end of the session. when
Mr.. johnson was journeying down from
the Capitol on Pennsylvania avenue
car with Democratic colleague from the
South who became miyed up in row with
a big colored man Mr. Johnson's little
and was about To he annihilated when
Mr.. johnson jumped to his feet. tapped
the negro on the shoulder and said
Vanish The colored man jumped
through a window, taking the glass with
him
Those folks who know Mr.. johnson
well are confident there is going to be
doing when he begins to fiy.
As mechanician at College Park said
the other day after watching the Repre-
sentative in the air:
Hes a wonder, When he begins to hy
by himself he will make the avaerge
professional look like terrified old maid.
But he won't last He'll 20 up some day
in typhoon and come down in hurry
with his engine on top Of him. But don't
believe he cares"