The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-03-20
WINDSOME WEATHER

hadn't been for the wind. The atmos- |
,heric agitation, a fringe of the biz |
lard raging 1000 miles away, was |
not strong enough to worry the air
man, but he didn't like to take mex
perienced passengers up in it. 1t was
not until late in the afternoon, when
the wind had Gained down little that
he began making flights, whereupon
the following took the air in rapid
succession: Bert Melville of the Mel
vile Dramatic Company. Geo. o.
j. w. Davis Jr. and NAL
colin Davis. Mrs. Donald Schneider,
Laurie Izlar and Laurie Benjamin.
Mr.. Keightly made practice yes
terday of starting from the eastern
end of the field and taking the air
about midway. AS he rose he circled
around until the plane pointed north
cast, when he would come back oven
town with the wind behind him at
speed Of almost if not quite hundred
miles an hour, which was consider
ably reduced when he turned and
drove into the wind on his way back
to the landing field. There is no dan
ger in plane as long as the wings
and steering gear are intact and the
engine works, and even if the engine
fails the skilled aviator can generally
glide to the ground safely. Making
landing is the most delicate part of
the air voyage. and Mr.. Keightly is
evidently a master of the art. Nobody
has yet complained of being Jared,
D. w. Tompkins tells a joke on.
himself regarding his trip aloft taken
Thursday. Tompkins was enjoying
every second of his trip, but when
about two miles from the landing
place and at least $500 feet up the
aviator shut off the engine and the
plane began to glide downward.
Tompkins thought the jig was up Oh
rather down. and began to try to
pray. He couldn't remember anything
but "Now | lay me down to sleep,
and was on the third line of that ana
trying to pick out soft spot on the
race track when the engine start
ed again and Tompkins concluded he
would live little longer. He doesn't
remember whether he finished the
lprayer or not.
The spectators held their breath
yesterday when the airplane was
scooting down the field. gathering
speed for it's flight, and cow stepped
out of the woods and nonchalantly es-
sayed to take up the road. That cow
had been spoiled by the difference paid
to her by automobiles. Luckily the
pilot saw her in time and lifted the
machine. When the plane roared ovel
her and the wind from it jerked hel
half way around, there was one
healthy scare thrown into that cow
and she may be running yet.
Messrs. Keightly, Keen and Lutte.
are very congenial bunch; the only
thing that makes trouble among them
is Mr.. Lutes' hat. Mr.. Lutes has ons
of those hardboiled hats, from which
has evoluted the trench helmet. TIL.
trench helmet is shade heavier thar
the hardboiled hat, but on the othel
hand it is easier to get off. Keightly
and Keen have taken dislike to tina
hat, and have been trying to separat,
Lutes from it for six months. Lutes
however, never takes it off except tt
bow to a lady; he sleeps with it on
and as he is the only person who ha:
the combination to it, he has so fal
managed to keep it and his head to
| gether Keightly has contemplated
taking Lutes aloft, hrst instructine
Keen to fail to strap Lutes in secure
ly, and figuring on Earring Lutes ane
the hat apart when they fell out
Lutes is leary. however, and Away.
attends to the strapping himself. Tbs
other day. for some unknown reason
perhaps temporary alteration
Lutes divided himself from his hat
and to further prove he was for tn,
time being crazy put it in the air
| plane, on the pilots seat. Then h
went out to one side of the field ant
began instructing crew of coloret
persons, who were moving some brusl
/ into the woods. Just then along cam,
Keightly with passenger, and whel
he went to take his place in the ma
chine there 10 and behold was Lutes
hat. Whereupon, Keightly rejoicet
greatly, and said to Keen, "Here'
where we lose that - hat" an,
going up with his passenger at leas
5000 feet and about three miles from
/ the landing field he tossed the ha
overheard, expecting it to fall in som
place where it would remain until
goat ate it. But the wind took tn
hat on its wings, and whirled it roun
and round, and carried it in curve
land slants until it was over the land
ing field again, and Lutes, coming on
to look for his tile saw it almost owe
him. So he stepped quickly right un
derait, and it came down on his hea,
so accurately and forcefully that
II fitted itself on so tightly that h
wasn't able to get it off until he wen
into town and had a druggist bath
his temples with alum water. Whel
keightley came to earth. and saw tn
hat, and Lutes under it. he said moth
ing, but went off in the woods and ga
down under tree and famed himsel
for at least ten minutes. He was ask
ing the price of dynamite at the hard
ware store this morning, so he evl
IDENTIFY hasn't given up hope.
Mr.. Lutes says there are a numbe
of people booked for flights, and tina
he expects Sunday viii be busy day
He asked that as many as can do S