The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-10

OF the flight itself Mrs. Wood had
one criticism. She objected to the
rushing roar of the motor exhaust in
her ears and the unexpected blast of
hot air which whistled past her head
when the motor was started. other
wise she is strongly in favor of flying.
She says that she felt no fear at all
during the flight, and that the only
time she had any unpleasant sensation
at all was when Lieutenant Weber
began a long gliding descent prepara-
tory to landing. This sensation, Mrs.
Wood said. was just a sort of sinking
sensation at the pit of the stomach,
such a feeling as one gets when
fast elevator in a city skyscraper be-
gins a downward journey. Mrs. Wood
called the sensation IAN exhilaration."
Didn't Intend to Fly.
Nor did Mrs. Wood have any partic-
ular intention of flying when she went
to the flying field at Washburn early
this morning She merely went to the
field out of curiosity. She wanted to.
see a plane at close quarters. She
wanted to see one land.
According to her own story of the
events leading up to the flight, Mrs
Wood was at Central park feeding
the swans when she heard the hum
up and saw the winged shape dip
ping and sailing in great circles
overhead. She saw it dip towards the
earth in the direction of Washburn
college. Thinking that here was her
chance TO see one of the man-birds
at close quarters she went to the COL
lege campus.
Arrived at the flying field she spoke
to Roy Godsey, manager for Lieu
tenant Weber. who explained the
plane to her He asked her if she had
ever seen the earth from the clouds.
She answered no" Then he asked
if she would like to. And Mrs Wood
said yes without a moments hesita-
ton.
No sooner said that it was accomp-
lished. The flyers helmet was
promptly placed upon her head and
pulled tight under her chin. The
leather jacket was, donned. She was
lifted into the fronk seat right behind
the motor and strapped in. A roar
ing exhaust. a blast of engine heated
air, a short rush over the ground, and
Mrs. Wood was to all intents and pur-
poses alone with nothing but space
between her and the earth.
She Had No Fear.
Mrs. Wood declares that she had
no sensation of fear at any time dur
ing the flight, nor before or after
When interviewed at her home after
the flight she was composed and un-
excited.
MIS-. WOO0 is the VIE OF Judge j.
G. Wood. She was at one time a re-
porter for Eugene Field when that
famous author and poet was the pub
Usher of a newspaper at st. joseph,
Mo. She is the author of numerous
small books on a variety of subjects
Her pen name is Caroline Cunning
ham.
Wants Checks at Funeral.
Nor is Mrs. Woods's fame concerned
wholly with work for herself. In 1902,
thru her personal efforts, the Kansas
Children's Home society was saved
from the rocks of financial failure.
She got a bill thru the Kansas legisla-
ture making an appropriation for the
society. This appropriation saved the
society and has indirectly been the
cause of the saving of much suffering
and unhappiness on the part of home
less and motherless Kansas children.
And more, too, she has so arranged
her affairs that even her death will
bring benefit to the Kansas Chill
| dren's Home society. She has pro-
vided that box be placed on her cas-
ket in which her friends will be asked
to drop checks made payable to the
Kansas Children's Home society The
checks will be the flowers which will
deck her bier, and the happiness of the
children provided with homes thru her
| thoughtfulness will be her reward.