Omaha daily bee., 1917-10-21


KEEP BUSY ALL DAY.
Women's teams working in various
parts of the city and in booths at
the department stores, the insurance
committee of 80 ment, manufacturers
team, retailers committees. Boy
Scouts, iobbers' committees and teams
Arom various fraternal and other or
$ganizations in the city kept up the
charge until dark, hammering away at
every door in the business district,
SOLICITING every eInploye in the shops
and even invading residence districts
20 hustle subscriptions in the homes.
Figures were not available last
night. The tired committees plodded
on until night and then the members
hurried home to supply, many with
their pockets stuffed with subscrip-
tions which they did not take time to
turn in at headquarters.
BOY SCOUTS IN PARADE.
At 10 o'clock the Boy Scouts pa
rad ed the streets, disbanded and en-
tered the office and store builings So
Letting everyone insight. They met
with remarkable success.
II didn't think | could afford to
buy one this time" said one lady
solicited by scout, but | hated to
turn down scout in this good work.
whereupon she drew~a pencil from
her hair and subscribed. ~.
In the strong wind the three i'm
mense gas bags of the free balloons
at Fort Omaha swayed and swung
for "a quarter of an hour before they
could ascend safely for the Liberty
! flight. gSs -.
Unfurls Huge Flag.
AT 1O:45 they finally were off. In
the largest balloon were Pilot Leo
Stevens, Lieutenant Colonel Fravell
and tudent-Sergeant Harley Brown
of Lincoln, Earl Latimer of
Seattle and Dale Turnmen Of Idaho
Falls. AS this balloon rose there was
slowly uifurled from, its basket the
largest American flag in this part of
the country, 90 by go feet. Even
this immense flag soon seemed a
small patch in the sky as the balloon
rose rapidly to an altitude OF l,OOU
feet above Omaha.
In two smaller balloons were two
Omaha boys making their solo flight
IN the interests of Liberty bonds.
While anxious friends and relatives
below waved and cheered the boys
smiled gamely, busily throwing out
fhe sand They were not in the
least nervous. though this was the
6rst time they ever sailed alone.
Drops Bond Literature.
As soon as the balloons reached the
calm of higher attitudes they sailed
more smoothly, heading towards
Iowa. From the baskets came flut-
tering down on the city leaflets, books
and pamphlets telling the reason
why patriotic American citizens
shoutE buy Liberty bonds.
They will probably land in north
: east Missouri" said Lieutenant Good
ale, as he watched them from be-
low. All the passengers promised to
telegraph friends and the press when
they land later IN the day. ~.
A number of visitors from the city
as we'll as the families of officers in
the fort watched the start of the Lib
erty fight. Mrs. Leo Stevens, who
has taken many flights herself, was an
interested spectator. With her were
Mrs. Howard White, wife of Captain
Howard White, and Mrs. Boettcher,
wife of Captain Boettcher. Mr.. and
Mrs. Harry Ryan and Miss Ryan of
Omaha were on hand to witness the
solo flight of their son and brother.
Herbert Ryan. Friends of R. G.
burke, the Omaha boy plotting the
third balloon, were also present.
Wished She WAS Along. u
While Mrs. Ryan was somewhat
nervous and anxious concerning the
safety of her son up in the clouds, his
sister shared mis- own daring.
Il only wish I could go along she
laughed. I'LL were boy I'd be at
Sort, Omaha, too"
The total subscriptions in Omaha
10 to this morning were $8,S39,950,
though it is known that there are
others that have not yet been official
v reported in.
The women's committee is meeting
with splendid success ie the various
department. stores where the women
are maintaining booths and selling
1Auds to the customers.
The drive will continue with full en-
.Lusiasru until night.