The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-12
WILL PERSEvERE IN
ATTEMPT TO
JUMP
Big Biplane Will be Recon-
structed Again For the
Parachute Leap.

DR.. Bell and +. G. Kenworthy, aid
ed by their mechanicians, have al
ready begun tn reconstruct and repair
the big Benoist tractor. which fell 100
feet Saturday night, while carrying
DR.. Bell and Prof. Sheppard up to
try the parachute jump from the
moving machine. When the big trac-
tor came down with a crash it threw
both men clean SO that they only
sustained severe bruises, which while
painful. do not prevent them from
being around. Four sections of the
tractor were smashed and one skid
broken in two. The engine was not
damaged to material extent. the big
gest loss of the whole fall being the
breaking Of the propeller, which costs
500 and was only received in the city
Saturday from Baltimore. When the
machine is ready to go again the par
achute will be attempted for the last
time. If no go a be made of the
proposition then, it will undoubtedly
be dropped.
Engine Spit Fire.
According to the stories of both
Bell and Sheppard the big engine was
not working right when they left the
ground. A large crowd had gathered
on the field to see the attempt and
some Of them were becoming impa-
tient at the delay in getting away and
started making remarks. Then Man.
Kenworthy came. over to DR..
Bell and Informed him that the crowd
did not think he could fly.
I'll show them" the aviator said,
and taking off the parachute he made
a flight some 800 feet up, cutting two
circles and landing in nice shape.
Even then the engine was bucking
and running hot, something unusual
for a Roberts. as they usually run
cold. After this flight a consultation
was held among the directors of the
firm n it was decided to try the
drop at all hazards as some big con-
tracts are hanging fire. pending the
successful completion of the act. Ac-
into the machine and they started off
the ground.
Kenworthy and Nose Rosenzweig
were standing together when they
scared into the air and Kenworthy,
watching the engine spit and fume,
said that he never expected to see
the machine come down safely and
turned away in order not to see the
fall. A few seconds later he turned
back and saw the machine diving
through the air. There she goes"
ne Sdld, ana II dld go, Tor a gust OF
wind caught the machine after the
engine died and threw her sidewise
on the ground, the men falling clear
in Il lucky way.
The continued accidents Of the
company in their attempt to do the
famous act, has been a matter of re-
greet with Grand Forks people, who
wish to see the promoters and avia-
tors make good. Some have main
tanned that Bell was yellow" and did
not want to try out the act and was
stalling. Sheppard, however. who is
simply CRAZY" to try the drop, MAIN
tains that the engine was sure going
bad Saturday night. throwing hot wa
ter over him and Bell and shooting
a sheet of blue flame from the cy-
finders. Bell says 1t is not a matter
of fear with him. that he has not gone
up before. but a matter of Judgment.
and AYERS that he can hardly be
afraid when he has gone up twice
and fallen both times. which falls.
had they been unlucky. might have
been fatal to him and the parachute
jumpers.