Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-13
When immy Flew

i " learning, Lnree LnlngS Cnat were OF
much interest to him had been born
into the world They were the auto
mobile, the motorcycle and the aero
plane. Upon wireless telegraphy he
had not bestowed more than passing
thought for, as he forcibly expressed
1t, lit didn't get you nowhere"
OF the first mentioned three he de.
sired to make for himself one of each
and In reality had made an automobile
that went haltingly and uncertainty
down the road for distances varying
from a few feet to half mile. Upon
its completion Jimmy was the king of
his gang for ten days-just ten days
and no longer.
He was coasting down the long hill
in front of his fathers home one day
when the machine became unmanage-
able and ran away. On the bridge it
struck COW, breaking her leg so she
had to be killed for beef The auto
mobile. with Jimmy at the wheel, then
jumped the balustrade, landing in the
water upside down, and had 1t not
been for ready assistance Jimmy
would have been drowned.
Jimmy was just at that age when
he was easily frightened at something
of no consequence, yet would, with
perfect equanimity, climb to the top
of forty foot windmill tower while
the wheel was turning in perfect
gale and wonder why his parents be-
came so excited and ordered him
down forthwith. It took more than
an automobile accident to dampen his
inventive spirit. so he took up the
of motorcycle with re-
newed enthusiasm. In it, however, he
found more than his match and had
to give up the project. His fathers
withdrawing all his assistance latter
his former accident no doubt was the
controlling factor in the failure. The
making Of an aeroplane was never
considered very seriously by Jimmy,
as he had never seen one outside of
books. let alone get close enough to
see how the thing was made.
This explains why Jimmy's heart
throbbed with excitement when he
learned that there was to be an aero.
plane flight at the forthcoming cele
bration, and he became more excited
than ever few days before the much
looked for date when a force of men
fathers orchard and were soon erect
ing the canvas hangar that was to
house the machine.
Jimmy was at the spot post haste
and logged the steps Of the workmen
from morning until night. carrying
bolts. wire, or anything that their
slightest wish signified they needed. !
Jimmy absorbed the erection of that
biplane as a sponge absorbs water.
He was very likely boy, and the !
men took a great fancy to him, ex.
planning everything in detail. and
when the last nut had been tightly
fastened, the last wire drawn taut un- |
til it fairly sang, the machine was
pushed into the open, Jimmy placed
IN the seat and picture taken OF the !
youthful aviator.
While he sat there the young man
who operated the machine showed
him how the aeroplane was guided
md how the various planes were ma
lipulated.
Say, when fellow has to use both
.eet and both hands and his back, he
loes not have very much time for any
hing else, does he?" Jimmy asked
mo time to look at the landscape.
hats sure" his instructor replied.
The aviator and his mechanicians
we're seated few few feet away, eat
ng dinner; Jimmy was sitting in the
machine, trying to explain to Bud VIII
kins and Jerry Smith Just hew the
hing flew. when Bud in spirit of
un, gave the paddles whirl. Imme-
lately there was sputter that grew
.apidly into roar. Before Jimmy or
he men were aware of what had hap
,ened, the machine was bounding
llong over the deld.
The frightened boy just had one
ieeting glimpse of the men as they
Jumped to their feet in futile attempt
o catch the machine and then he saw
he frightened face of his mother as
le sped past the house. AS he turned
o look back he unknowingN raised
he planes and barely cleared the high i
ledge at the end OF the field.
Higher and higher he went.
The whole country seemed to be
me large green carpet; golden
plotches, showing where the oats
lad been cut made the corndelds a
,feeueF nue. ny COulTd6t, Wuu0 ueES
md there tin roof was betrayed by
lashing the rays Of the sun up into :
IFS face.
BY the time he had realized his po-
ition Jimmy attempted to lower his
'lanes to keep from going any high
r. He did it SO suddenly that he /,
learly turned over. He turned half
round in his seat to see how far he
ad gone and the machine shot around (.
n a sharp turn, canting at an angle (.
hat was positively dangerous.
I'm on my way back, anyhow" he
nuttered between his chattering
eeth. eff l ever get down all right
II be some big chief" he continued,
ot without certain exultation, in
pite of his perilous position, as he
yatched the country below him pass {
1g like some huge kaleidoscope.
The motor made such roar that he {
ould hardly think, yet he revealed in &
IS smoothness and easy running, boy {
nough he was.
He was almost, over the town again
nd as he sped by there were innu-