The Keota news., 1911-06-30

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"
We'll. 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
ny across the lake and back again"
Good. Maybe we'll have a ripple
of excitement here. after ALL"
Let us hope that It 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 frecrackers down about the
boathouse. no unusual sounds greet
ed the rising sun. Yet 1t developed
into a day OF jollification. OF patriotic
demonstrations. OF stirring music by
the band, OF Haunting banners. OF ex-
citing boat races aud 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 q sudden a great shout went up:
Look! Look! the airship! 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 a bird through the
air. 1t was a thrilling sight. Every
thing else was forgotten. and the Mt
tention OF the revelers 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-
inK 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 II In awed silence. Then.
| suddenly. there was an exp:osion OF
sharp ordinations and cries OF
alarm. merging quickly into horri-
fed groan. in which the whole crowd
participated. II 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, a shapeless mass of debris. One
| second there was a 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
| Tho aviator came to the surface.
| gasping and choking. and was hauled
| aboard a launch that chanced to be
conveniently near. He could not
| speak. but was apparently unhurt. His
rescuers took him ashore. Marjorie
Kenneth was among those on the pier
AZ they helped the man out OF the
boat she saw his face. She screamed
| and staggered toward him.
Chester! Chester! My God. is 1t
your"
| He looked at her In blank surprise
Then his face lighted up with a smile.
| "Marjorie!" he articulated. He tore
| himself loose from the men who were