The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-05

AT nrst couldn't sec anything.
Finally-it seemed longer than it was
opened my eyes and saw one OF
the wing Zip pontoons on the surface
Then 1 law the big main pontoon
afoat and swan for It kept on
and got to il. 1t wasn't far away, but
it seemed to be drifting. getting
away from me.
Fortunately the water wasn't very
rough. l climbed and sprawled over
the pOntoon. The reaction mi
me all the more. l don't how l nap
pened to think Of il, but ! found my
handkerchief ard tied it oun NY
| wrist as best l could n took a turn
round one Of the rods that attaches
the pOntoOn to the machine. Then
l became partly unconscious
Il heard the sound Of the motor in
the launch that always follows the
| flying machines. 1t was coming to
pick me up. l couldn't see The
.aunch-I just heard the engine. In
fact l hardly realized that they were
coming to rescue me-
Lieut.. Towers paused and looked
toward the door.
"And then? What happened after
that"
The trained nurse came in with
Towers's dinner. 1t was an odd hour
for dinner o'clock. Some friends
Of the cOnvalescent had sent him a
tender spring chicken, smothered, and
what looked like raspberry jelly.
A marine orderly appeared at the
door and saluted.
"Some visitors below to see YOU,
sir" He gave their names.
Tell them to come right up"
CAY, ay, sir" The sunburned face
above the khaki uniform disappeared.
The interviewer knew his time was
up.
Just in a few words-what hap
pened to you after you were %
he asked.
We'll, they dragged me into the
launch. The engine had been stopped.
Some one cranked it over and just
then l began to revive a little bit. ]
told them to stop the motor. Then
, got them to hand me the boats COM
! pass and l took bearings on the w
: rious points Of land-Thomas Point
!. Light and the entrance buoys to An
: napolis Channel. We had to work out
the position SO we could get some idea
= = of where Billingsley fell. I said hi.
: body would come to the surface ir
about a week and it did. They found
= it not far from the position l plotted
after I was picked up"
! What was the effect Of your acct
- dent? You seem to be recovering
y rapidly"
The rib that was torn loose and
!, good many of my muscles are sore
The surgeons feared at first that I ha,
, internal injuries, but they say nov
: that I am all right. They insist o.
my taking a long rest-fat on m
back for about two weeks, I'm afraid
q and then three months sick leave"
What duty will be assigned to yo'
p when you return?"
"a I'm going to keen on with the avia
- ton school,"
The reporter heard Lieut.. Towers
- visitors coming along the corridor an
- rose to go. The young aviator sougt
- to detain him.
Don't go. Some friends of min,
OF I can't keep them waiting, bu you wi
ne stay, won't you?"
Just for a moment. The Secretar
os OF the Navy came here to visit 70,
He wanted o to give up flying, didn
Ihe?"
Il don't know. He asked me VIII;
o. duty l wanted. You see, I took II
O. Secretary up for a fight when he ";
d. down at Annapolis a few weeks az
and he was very much Interested
navy aviation. 1t was the first tin
n a Secretary Of the Navy had been l
thy in n of our machines.
'se w had a miniature flag. like +,
-er Secretary's official flag, made for II
occasion. and few it on the macht,
when he went up. He said he Won
MS let me keep on with my flying wor
ed l don't need much sick leave-n
we three months anyWay-and q
IS anxious to get back on the job
- TN NC III wi