Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-12
Expected to Be Dizzy
and Seasick, But
Escaped Both.
Even 'Stunts" in the Air
Not So Terrifying
as Expected.
BY WESLEY l.. JONES.
United States Senator from WASH
inEtOn.

year and a half ago as /
looked toward the Wash
ington Monument from a window in
the Capitol at a French aviator turn
ing somersauIts, flying sidewise and
doing the falling leaf in flying ma
chine. Had any one told me that
would be doing the same thing
would have asked him if he thought
was going crazy: and yet | have done
it and liked it, and ! hope no one
thinks ! am crazy. even ii they may
think me reckless.
| watched from day TO day the
planes soaring through the ar over
the capital like great birds. My con-
fidence in their safety and staoliits
became greater as the days went by
weighed the dangers of the aero
plane with the dangers of the auto
mobile and convinced myself very
easily that g5od aeroplane In
charge of a we'll trained driver is not
SO dangerous as an automobile.
Asked Col. Lee for Ride.
came from the front to show the peo-
pie of the capital what could be done
with an aeroplane i decided to ask
him for a ride. l called him on the
phone He said he would be glad to
take me up at o'clock the next day.
That rather took away my breath.
1t was little sooner than | expected,
but it was settled. l was to go up.
My mind, however. began to wander
from the beauties of the machine
soaring through the air to the effect
1t might have on me. Would l get
sick? Would l be dizzy? What would
happen if something should go wrong?
Would ] come safely through? Things
looked a little different now that l
was to fly. The thought that | ought
to arrange my personal affairs for
anything that might happen came
into my mind. Things took on diff
ferent hue. l began to feel as l
thought a man might feel who was
going to be executed the next day.
Three o'clock came very quickly. ]
started to the aviation field. When
reached it | was told that Col. Lee
was at Alexandria with his plane,
which had been injured in the high
wind the night before and therefore
could not go up.
Really, I felt relieved. Things looked
brighter. was glad. thought ! could
enjoy seeing the other men fly, so stayed
to watch them.
Wish to Fly Comes Back.
AS / watched and saw how grace
fully they scared through the air and
how safely they came back the bug
to fly began its work again, and in
few minutes ] wanted to go up. ]
asked Lieut.. Dodge of our Aviation
Corps. who was flying, if he could take
permit from Capt. Salmon" ! was
sorry, but was told that Capt. Salmon
was expected any moment l waited
for an hour. but he did not come and
went home disappointed.
The bug was busy, however; and
QffaFw2rd / =
mon, Col. Lee and Capt. Resnati. We
turned over, went sidewise, careened
toward the earth like a falling leaf,
took the nose dive, went through the
and did all the other stunts learned by
the men on the battle front. l did not
get sick or dizzy. I was not afraid.
liked the sensation. The rides were
too short. We came down too soon.
did not care SO much for the stunts. !
wanted some straight-away flying. I
wanted to soar through the air and
watch the earth go by, and think.
Some time ago / met Lieut.. David
Logg. He is an aviator instructor at
in itself. is fine recommendation. He
is a bright. vigorous. stalwart young
fellow. His very appearance inspires
confidence, and thought this might
be my chance to take a trip. limited
that would like to ride to New York.
He took me up just as quickly as had
Col. Lee, and said he would take me
at any time / wanted to go. We set
the date and the hour for 10 o'clock
Saturday. December 2s.
Extends Not Encouraging.
Again began to weigh the posi-
bilities Of the trip, and to think not
so much of. the beauties of it as about
what might happen. 1 did not get
very much encouragement from those
with whom 1 talked. The day before
we were to start l asked Mrs. Jones If
or. .... ....
well, guess 1 will CO." she said.
at may be your last ride"
That cooled me Off considerably
The next morning the first thing saw
in the paper was the headline 1.-TWO
Aviators Killed" I was in no hurry
to start Some jealous friends who
were going urged that we start early.
They seemed to be afraid I wouldn't
make connections. On the way to the
field didn't have much to say. 1t
seemed long way to New York and
didn't know about landing places.
We reached the field a little after 9.
rived. Half-past 10 and he wasn't
there. Secretly I was rejoicing
something had happened-maybe he
wouldn't come. Eleven o'clock and
still he hadn't come. l was sure he
had the "fu." And them saw him
coming. Down went my spirits and
nothing was said to raise them. When
was fitted out said to the adjutant:
IT will see you again in day or two"
well, I hope So" said he. with Pc
culiar emphasis on the word hope"
Formalities Not Cheerful.
Everybody insisted on shaking
hands and expressing the wish, in
sad sort of way, that we would
reach New York all right, but plainly
showed they had doubts To cap the
climax, was asked to sign paper
answering certain questions. What
is your full name?' What is your
home address," Where do you keep
your bank account" "Have you made
your will?" Where is it?" Whom
do you want notified if anything
should happen"
began to look for the question
that was asked the old darby when
he went to seek employment in one
of the munition plants and was asked
Where do you want your remains
sent?" and thought that if that ques
ton was asked l would make about
the same answer as he made--I would
''sho' stay with my remains" and let
the flying go.
You can imagine the kind of happy
feeling that / had when I got into
the cockpit of the Curtiss training
plane Sc to start on the journey from
which no one really seemed to think
I would get back safely. l looked
like an Eskimo or deep-sea diver.
had put on over my regular suit a
union suit of khaki. lined with plush,
and buttoned up tightly about the
neck. ankles and wrists. On my hands
I wore a pair of gauntlets, fleece