The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-09
AnAdventurous
American
BY ALAN HINSDALE


SIDE N the pan European war left a
luxurious home TO take part in il seems
a mystery. And when we consider
that he entered the aviation seryira ~
race the dangers of the land far up in
the air. position trying enough bv
itseit without adding 10 the fact thai
one IS liable TO be dropped. not from a
break OF machinery. but shot fired
Tor the purpose. his action is hard IN
understand.
Delano entered the French aviation
corps composed of Americans Uo
made flights from that part of Belgium
winch Is nearest Zeebru.se. the base of
the German dying machines. one day
When he was sailing over the North
sea near the coast he saw n little
cigar shaped boat beneath him on the
surface Of the water. which he took
Tor submarine. Ii occurred 10 him
that If he could swoop down low
enough To get good aim he mirbt
toss bomb on To ii and sink it. lie
didn't have much fear Of il. for its
guns were no. made fo: sending shot
into the upper air
Circling. he drew a spiral down to
within a couple of hundred feet. Ec
feared 10 lose the game by its being
submerged. But the captain had no
such intention nelun0 dropped
bomb, which stirred the water IA hdr.
dred feet from the submarine Not
receiving shot in return. he descend
ed to within hundred feet of his
enemy aud dropped another bomb
This struck the water about fifty feet
on the other side of the submarine
/ lie was getting third bomb ready
when man with rifle appeared on
the submarine and fired shot which
4 exploded Ncd's gasoline tank
! Ned was dropped into the water n
dozen feet from the submarine There
was nothing for him 10 do bm 10
strike ont for the cigar siar"d boat
and give himself up This he did aud
was received on board with praise for
his daring.
However, there was no place 10 con
fine him. and there seemed 10 be no
necessity To do 50 lie was made 10
do the work OF one of the crew. the
vessel being short handed. and this
gave him the liberty oi q. man with
duties TO perform Ills love for nov
city was satisfied. for the boat fire.
Qucntly divcd and when She did Ned
dived with her Used as he was 10
sailing up in tho air. he could not re-
press a sense of Smothcring mt going
down under the water the first time.
one day when the submarine was on
the surface of the water a ship came
in sight flying the British flag. Ned
saw at once that he was liable TO wit
ness the destruction Of a vessel. The
submarine kept To the eastward of its
intended victim and when the evening
twilight came had the ship against il.
while the submarine was in darkness
Then she pushed forward till within
striking distance and called on the
Britisher's crew to get into their boats
The order was obeyed. and mum
Der of shots were put into the hull be-
low the water line. Ned saw her 90
down stem first. almost as swimmer
taking dive. only the diver reap
pears. which the vessel did not
While this was occurring darkness
was falling. The last Ned saw Of the
In lai .
the rowcrs resting on their oars watch.
Ing their shin make her last plunge.
What they did afterward could not he
seen for the darkness. Ned wondered
what they would do Would they pun
for the English or the Belgian coast:
The distance to land eastward was so
much less than westward that he be
lieved they would take that direction
Likely they had taken compass into
their boats. which would give them
their course.
Naturally the idea of escape from
the submarine connected itself IN ms
mind with the boats. though the hope
of reaching them seemed madness. lie
was Obliged 10 take his turn with the
watch on deck \ couple of hours ait.
or the sinking Of the ship be heard the
sound Of oars Inferring that they
were from the boats Of the sunken
shin he listened eagerly. The sound
there were number Of boats pulling
torcther-came from the west toward
the submarine. The crew of the latter
heard them. but. inferrins that they
were the sailors they had di>poSSessed
paid no attention TO them.
Ned paid good deal Of attention t.
them. Gettin. as far from the rest oi
the watch as possible. he awaited the
opproach Of the corners. lie made NJ
his mind thar they would pass near tnt
submarine. but whether south or nortn
Of il he could not tell. Presently DC
Thought he heard them coming on INC
south.
Dare he try TO join them: There
was no light on the submarines deck
and he could easily slide into the water
and swim for them. II he missed
I n