The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-01-18
AvlatOrs Undaunted. Though
Rendered More Cautious by
Deaths of MOlsant
and HOxsey.
BY LANES A. npeHRToN.

battleship. SO he arranged with the
officials Of the San Francisco aero
nautical meet to skyplane out from the
California shore to the armored cruis-
er Pennsylvania.
In some aspects this is the most SEN
sational aeroplane feat yet undertaken.
1t Is q brand new, twentieth century
way of boarding a man-of-war This
being the month of the San Francisco
meet, the thing is brought before us
with all its startling reality. Mr.. Ely
has not only reversed his process of
fight, but his position on the CONT
nent, the previous feat having been
pulled off at Hampton Roads on the
Atlantic coast. He has likewise re-
versed all previous human experience.
The possibilities he has opened are
staggering.
What is to prevent a flock of aero
planes from boarding a battleship
while the aeronauts whip the crew
before the jack tars recover from their
astonishment? What is to prevent the
sky passengers from dropping bombs
on the admirals head or blowing Off
the fighting tops and coming towers?
1t is plain to see that in future our
fighting ships will have to be armored
not only on the sides and ends, but on
top.
Mr.. Ely presents us more pleasing
prospect, however. Hereafter when an
irate passenger loses his steamer, in
stead of jumping into the water or
shaking his fist and hurting language
at the disappearing liner, he can take
an aeroplane and land on deck with
takes ship that way.
Already Sensational Performer.
In Mr.. Ely's previous flight he gave
a bunch Of Uncle Sans naval officers
and men the sensation of their lives.
An inclined platform had been impro-
vised on the deck Of the Birmingham.
and from this the venturesome aviator
made his start 1t was a windy and
rainy morning, and for this reason
few believed that the trip would be
made. Almost before the onlookers
knew il the biplane had left the ship.
dipped until it actually grazed the wa
ter, then arose to a height of 200 feet
and bore away to the family outlined
Virginia shore, two and one-half miles
distant.
Mr. Ely said that when he struck
the water his propeller was slightly
injured and he himself was blinded
by the salt spray covering his Cog
giles. When he had taken time to wipe
off the moisture he was far aloft and
flying like bird.
The machine used was the same one
in which Glenn II. Curtiss made the
journey from Albany to New York.
Ely always uses Curtiss biplane and
with it recently won speed contest
against Wright machine.
1t would have been star idea if
Ely had decided to take with him on
his shore to battleship flight some Of
the San Francisco bellies who eagerly
accepted invitations to go aloft during
the San Francisco meet. 1t would
have opened a new era in the social
annals of the navy. The custom, once
having started. might have continued
and expanded until Uncle Sans crews
could have looked forward to regular
visits from the aeroplane girls bri-
gades that would literally drop In on
them every time their ships got near
shore.
Miss Sears Starts Fad.
To xras I1laapo, coors of noeto, ond
Newport who started the San Fran
cisco society buds to awaiting. Miss
Sears was not the first woman to go
aloft, but she was about the biggest
social noise that had done so. and the
sport was soon the fad Of the smart
set.
Aeroplaning is now in the acrobatic
stage. Man. having found his wings, is
trying them out and is doing all sorts
of freak feats In sheer enjoyment of
his new powers. This Is especially
true in America, where we are natural
~ more venturesome and where trick
riding and circus stunts have been in
dulged to the limit and beyond. Avla-
tors are agreed that to this fact Is due
many OF the deaths that have cast
shadow upon the sport. Later on, let
us hope, we shall settle down to
more serious and cautious gait. While
this may not be as sensational or
profitable, 1t will at least be better for
the future of aviation and will not
break so many necks.
The flight OF Ely to the battleship Is
not exactly of the freak class. since II
demonstrated possible uses for the
aeroplane In war. But spiral drops.
excessive altitude tests and other SEN
sational riding contribute little to the
science of aviation and only go to swell
the prize money ard the death list.
We need not be discouraged, how
ever. Even the bird when he begins
70 fly has few tumbles. II he, with
tens OF thousands of years of flying an
cestors behind him. falls out Of the
nest and gets bumped In learning 10
use his wings what wonder that man.
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