The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-19
BARELY ESCAPE
More Mishaps Mark tbe International
Aerop]ane Meet al Chicago.
DID NOT WANT TO GO UP


Uhinjured Beachy and Ward Bat.
tie Bravely and Successfully and
Land in Safety.
Arthur Stone, a driver Of a Queen
monoplane, was snatcte6 back from
death at the International eviation
meet at Chicago Wednesday, after
hopes for kis life had been given up
Howard Gill, in baby Wright,
came almost as close to his
death, but escaped from the wreck of
lis machine, unhurt.
Lincoln Beachey, after being driy-
en- far to the South and fighting his
way back to the field, rglided 1000
feet in safety to the earth, after his
engine had stopped suddenly.
James Ward had an equally hard
time to make his way back to the
field from far cut over Lake Michi-
gan, but descended in safety.
Stones machine fell into the lake
just at dusk. He leaped from the
falling plane and was rescued at the
point of exhaustion by a motor
boat after he had supported himself
In the water more than a half an
hour. His machine was not recover
ed.
That Stone was rescued was at
tributed largely to the insistence OF
his wife that he guard himself with q
life preserver. In spite of the order
that all flyers should wear life pre-.
servers, Stone, with others, started
for their machines unguarded. Mrs
Stone ran from the hangar just be.
fore the flight and insisted that he
wait while she tied an inflated au-
tcnlobile tire about his shoulders.
Unnerved by the deaths Tuesday OF
William R. Badger and St. Croi1
Johnstone, and deterrer by a high
wind, many Of the Flyers protested
against going up
But the judges were insistent and
finally half dozen flyers rose for a
cross water race around the crib
three and half miles out. Thomas
Sopwith had completed the second
lap Of the race and had been de-
clared winner, when a cry arose thai
Stones machine had fallen into the
water and that the aviator was
drowned
Reports that Stone had beer
Reports that Stone hail hrc,
drowned were quickly flashed to thu
hangers. Almost the first to hear o
| disappearance was his wife. Mrs
Irene Stone, who with her baby
awaited Stones return from the 7acs
far over .he .ate.
AS Mrs Stone darted out from ;
group Of friends, who sought to have
her return to the hotel, an automo
bile came in from the lake front, ant
Mrs. Stone was assured that her hus
band had been picked UP, alive, ant
merely the victim of a ducking.
I'm mighty glad l made Arthu
put on that life preserver," exclaimed
Mrs. Stone, her tears drying up. In
sure it saved his life.
Howard Gill, OF the Wright team
promised the first feature of a Ro
man holiday when his machine sud
denly checked as it skinned over th'
ground after a perfect landing, top
pied over with a terrific force. Gil
was pinioned for an instant betweel
| tangled wires and the taut canvas o
the baby Wright, but before th'
startled spectators reached him HI
dug himself from the ruins.
Gill really had narrow escape. HI
had made a perfect landing and wa
skimming over the turf at fort.
miles an hour speed The wheels o
his machine struck rut. The ski
supports snapped and the machine
toppled overhead foremost.
Beachey swept down before thu
grand stand with a dead engine tina
had stopped with him at height o
5000 feet. He had had hard figh
against the wind from the southwes
and almost everyone of the specta
tors was watching him when the pro
peller stopped. Instead Of falling
the airship began long circular
glide, so steep that one could see be
tween the planes. The angle became
sharper and sharper until the aero
plane touched .he earth, rolled a few
cfn