The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-21
Back From Flight, She Steps
Out of Ship Smiling.
WORKED HARD FOR CHANCE
Solicited Recruits Emitting Her
To Take to the Wings.
Sky Larking Brought No Fear
to the Topeka Lass.

'It was a delightful sensation, and
one that 1 thoroIy enjoyed" Miss
Edith Connell. daughter of ]. NJ. Con-
nell. general passenger agent of the
Santa Fe, said today, in speaking of
her experience Tuesday in flying with
Maj. r. S. Brown in the Dragon Fly.
one of the planes in the flying circus
that performed in Topeka Tuesday.
Wings must belong normally to Miss
Connell. for she confessed that it was
a perfectly natural feeling to go sail
ing up into the clouds. Even the
''winging," or whatever they call the
curves and stunts that airmen indulge
in, failed to shake her serenity. Her
nerves remain unshattered thru the
whole experience.
After the first dip, or chute-the-
chutes, Major Brown ratified some
thing on the ship to attract her at
tentiOn, and then formed a question
with his lips to learn whether she was
all right. When she nodded her head.
he proceeded to make some more
''death-defying life leaps" thru the
ether, that would have sent the aver
age person off into hysteria. but which
produced no such effect on his pas
Senger.
Miss Connell is noncommitta1 on
whether or not she expects to become
the possessor of flying machine, and
go skylarking thru the blue, even tho
SliG frankly adInlIS Inat SnG never en-
Joyed anything SO much in her life.
Worked Hard for Trip.
Miss Connell was one of the five To-
pekans who flew with the pilots when
they went up for their formation
flight late Tuesday afternoon. AS soon
as it was announced they were coming
to Topeka she determined to make
flight, if possible. When she arrived
on the field she discovered that the
only way it would be possible for her
to get a ride in the clouds would be
to obtain ten air service recruits.
Immediately the pretty, plucky To-
peka girl began work. With her win
ming smile and a Winsome determine
ton she "milled'' thru the crowds and
every time she saw a likely looking
prospect she approached him and said:
Don't you want to join the air
service? 1 am getting recruits and if
get enough l will get ride with one
of the pilots. I will appreciate it ever
SO much if you will let me turn in
your name"
Soon she had six recruits and with
her list she approached Colonel Cla-
gett and told him of her ambition.
Have 1 done enough to give me a
trip" she asked.
You have done mighty WELL the
colonel told her, but my instructions
require that you get at least ten re-
cruits for U.S."
Had Hcr Choice of Majors.
Undaunted, Miss Connell went to
work again and it was not long until
she returned with the required num-
Der. Colonel Clagett congratulated
her and then told her she would have
the honor of going up with a majo
and that she could take her pick of
the two majors with the squadron.
I'VE have one big tall, blond ma
jor andsaa little short major" Colonel
Clagett told her. (Which one do you
prefer for your pilot?''
II will leave it to you" she said
and with this she was off to the Red
Cross tent to put on the regulation
flying toggery. In a few minutes she
came out dressed in the jumper suit,
a big aviation coat and the head hood
of one of the flyers. Major Brown
Immediately took her in charge and
after posing for her picture, the en-
gine was started and they were off
in the regular order of the formation.
Not Hair TrembIed.
One of the men who went up for
the formation flight came down in a