The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-10-30


who contributed so much to the sue
cess of the Fair from the amusement
standpoint.
The reporter who sought an inter
view with Mr.. DeKor found him
man of culture and refinement, who
took pleasure in enlightening him
upon any point which excited his curl
osity. Mr.. DeKor is an enthusiastic
talker when it comes to his art, Dut
he is modest when the personal note
is sounded and while cheerfully an
swering any queries, he seems to
take the whole matter as a matter-of-
fact business proposition and evinced
no disposition to inject his personally
into the conversation.
Many people wondered if the slight
limp with which Mr.. Dekor walks
was a result of an aeroplane accident
When the reporter asked about this
MIR. DeKor said that he was injured
in a wreck on the Northern Pacific
railroad. AS q result of Injuries re-
ceived at that time he was confined to
the hospital for more than year. Mr'
DeKor is still extremely nervous on
one side of the body on account OF
those injuries.
But Mr.. DeKor has been in two
aeroplane smashups, in one OF which
he was injured over the right eye on
account of his glass goggles breaking.
The scar from this accident is still to
be seen. Both of the smashups happen
ed in TeXas-one at Beaumont and
one at San Antonio-and one OF them
placed the aeroplane out Of commits
sion for eight weeks, costing con-
siderable sum for repairs. The dar-
ing airman said up to the time OF
these accidents he did considerable
flying for pure sport, but ne has
abandoned the. sporting enc
and is making strictly business
proposition of it., At one time he had
intended to try for the worlds alti-
tude record but has abandoned all
such notions. The aviator says that
the view from an airship is grand ,and
in a level and thickly populated coun-
try the panoramic view from above is
like a checkerboard. Mr.. Dekor SAID
there was no sense Of motion on the
part of/the aviator, only a feeling tnat
a strong wind was blowing against
him and that the earth was slipping
by in motion while the machlne
was standing still.
Chas. T. Walsh, killed recently at
Trenton, N. j., was a friend OF Mr'
DeKor, and the aviator spoke teellng-
ly of his brother airman, who fell TWO
thousand feet to his death
as it very dangerous to ny IN
strong wind?" asked the inqulsltlVe
newspaper man. -.
well, not as much as the pubic
might suppose" answered the aVla-
tor, providing the wind is STEADY.
What aviators have to tear most Is
the sudden gust and fitful, changeabie
winds, which are treacherous. IL tne
wind is steady, so that the man at the
wheel can depend upon 1t, the We
locity, up to a certain point, is not a
great factor. 1t is the choppy WIND
shifting from one point to another
that may upset the equilibrium OF the
machine and hurl the operator mead
long to sudden death.
About how high do you have 10 &c
before getting away from the danger
Gus lower currents"
"Well, about 1000 feet is the best
height for safety, because you get
away from the surface currents aho
the wind is much steadier."
Would it be possible for you' "nlle
in fight, to do anything for your en'
cine in case it failed to work prop
erlv?" asked an innocent bystander.
ITO be sure not" said Mr.. Dekor
with a smile. In that case all there
is to do is to shut off the engine ano
look Tor a place to light"
"This matter of alighting is or con
siderable more importance than you
would imagine" said the alrman
"And that's another reason why IT II
SAFER to fly at a height OF 2,Ooo lee
than at a lower altitude. From the
greater height you will nave mor'
llme to pick out deslraole ianuins
place" saif
Mr., DeKor, pointing to sometnint
that looked like a watch, fastened OF
the steering apparatus. We'll that II
an aerometer. 1t records the nelgn
to which the machine ascends. It's ao
instment is so delicate that you Cal
note the change on ascending from I'M
first to the second story OF pullo
ing. The pressure OF the ar cause
the aerometer to register. II also nd
barometer to record weather cnans
es." The highest point reached o.
Mr.. DeKor during the eXnlDltlon
here was about 1000 feet, which wa
attained on the last flight OF Frloay'
MIR. DeKor went from Aboevllie -!
Cuthbert, Ca, where he will lily thi
week. . ~
The weather was very good LOT III
flights which he gave here ana
would be hard to imagine more pei
feet exhibition of air navigation ina
that given by Mr.. DeKor. The alrma
displayed great skill in the manage
ment of the machine.
The first fight on THURSDAY wa
DELAYED considerably. but it was una
yoidable. There were several trouble
which required patching up, but th
main difficulty was with one or I'd
rubber-tired rear wheels, which pei
sisted in blowing out. Finally an ea
fra wheel was attached, but, Deln
several sizes too large, it had TO Q
fitted, requiring considerable tim
Many persons in the crowd becam
impatient and some left without WI
Messing the flight. No one can reas