The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-12-28

lacked between a couple of
Stats that we're nailed across
the lower plane 20 the left OF
the drivers seat aud alongside
the engine. This was my scat.
II had no back and nagged
down like an old camp stool.
To get into II had 10 give an
Imitation Of an eel nquirmins
through gimlet hole. re-
marked 10 myself that while
working my camera II would
be up 20 me 10 hang on with
my toes and an eyelaHh or two.
we won't 90 very HIGH"
said christoffcrson, adjusting
the straps aeross his shoulders
that controlled the warpine
planes; "a couple Of thousand
feet or so will do us nicely.
There 10 q nasty eide wind
blowing up above and We don't
want 20 tip over"
'it's pretty foaoy, too" said
:. with great gusso, land n We
90 too high I won't be able TO
Get any pictures. Besides
want 20 get back In time 20
Get my pictures In the mail
east"
About that time | wac wlsh.
Ing that somebody would tell
me the mali closed In 10 min
utcs.
THAT little rod IL where ey.
erybody holds on" said Sllae.
careless like. II was a three
eighths Inch nickel brace, but
he only told me once tina, Il
was the place 10 hold on.
slias started the engine.
First II was a rputter, then a
clattar, then steady. roaring
hum. The propeller sent a rain
OF papers. sticks AMI pebbles
back on the spectators. who
made haaty getaway. Chris.
Jefferson raised his hand.
somebody turned us loose"
and We skinned out onto the
bay.
We slid along over the sur
face like the bottom OF the pom
toDn was CREASED. There wah
a slight joting motion as we
hit the high spots. ] kept my
eyes glued 60 the front end Of
the ponicon. Suddcaiy n be.
gan 10 rlne. The water fell
away like the bottom had drop
ped out
The pressure Of the air be.
came heavy and oppressive. ]
felt like a big husky bolt
beaver was trying 70 shove my
shoulders into my shoes. Ny
feet dangied over The edge %
the lower plane. and the sur
face 81 the bay wobbled about
far below mo. with a sickly
xTc.nlsh tinge, for all the
world Ike aish OF Jelly. You
know you don't see the up and
down motion Of the water
when you're up In the air.
began 10 wonder how much Of
a splash We would make II NO
took the shiE fiop."
! huns onto ms camera with
a daashlike grip and pulled The
slide from my holder, ] had
scarcely got Il free whom
swisai the xind tore II out OF
ny hand with jerk and i
went sailing away. Ncxt. J loni
ny hat. hooked my heels
over a brace below the plane
aud lot 20 with both hands
Was bound 20 get that picture'
The wind biew the hood out OF
my camera and ! loo, two plate
holders. had % giiess At my
pictures because tt was impos.
sible 20 focus.
We kept going higher and
higher. I leaned out and
touched chrissoffeFson on the
shoulder. He looked around
and could tell BY the movement
OF my mouth that ] Was talk.
,ng, but ne couldn't hear a
word. Then funny thing
happened.
CINE,
Lets land." said. with a
Jerk. wanted 20 hear the
whirr OF that engine again
gliding at that height didn't ap.
peal 10 me.
Chrla,offorson gave the lev
er. with. the. wheel-onis n yank
and the machine carecned over
at a dizzy angle and pitched
downward with a sickly twist.
Ing motion In series OF spiral
curves.
We were doing the spiral
dip, christofferson Is Swede
and began 20 wonder II he
was doing the spiral dip with
me because I looked Ike a
Swede, too
He wound up the spiral dip
with series OF abrupt piunges
known as the dip OF death,
then no headed the machine
straight for shore and we shot
onto that shiny. slippery-look.
ing green surface Of water with
q splash. The spray flew over
both OF Us. People on shore
said that our landing was
graceful and we'll Judged, Ike
The landing OF q Wild goose