The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-08-13
DARE DEVIL CUTS
AERIAL STUNTS
AT CUPIDS CALL
Arthur Oakley Will Con-
tinue to Fly, but
Normally
BRIDE A Bird GIRL
. Pretty Mahota Nichols
Agreed to Wed Only if
He Behaved
SAYS TRICKS ARE SAFE
Antics Upon Moving Plane
Won Nationwide Fame
for Ardmore Youth

Special 10 The World.
ARDMODE. Aug. 1.-THE super
human power which Dan Cupid pos
sesses, regardless OF his diminutive
physique was demonstrated in a
most conclusive manner when the
marriage of Arthur oakley, nation
ally known aerial acrobat, OF Ard
more, and Miss Mahota Nichols, of
Sulphur, was announced. Cupid shot
two darts when he selected oakley
as his target---one directed at his
heart and the other at his stubborn
will power, which has scoffed at the
advice of thousands of people who
warned Oakley OF the foolhardy ma
ture of his antics thousands OF feet
= Jove the earth on speeding air
planes.
Both arrows took effect. Oakley
gained the consent OF Miss Nichols
only after he had faithfully prom
ised her that he would no longer
perform acrobatics on the wings OF
planes, and thus ended the death
defying and sensational career Of a
mere youth who has thrilled n mil
lion people In all parts of this coun-
try during the past several years.
This does not mean, however. that
Oakley will discontinue flying, for
thuslastic over the possibilities Of
aerial navigation as applied to COM
merce and pleasure, and both may
be found almost daily, attired in
their leather togs and high-topped
boots on the aviation field north OF
Ardmore, preparing to take the air,
or, II plane was overhead, IL would
be a safe guess that they were In 1t.
The couple spent their honeymoon
at Galveston. Texas, to which city
they journeyed via the aerIa! route.
Oakley Is now interested in aerial
development from a business view
point, and is associated with Dorsey
Askew. one OF the most capable pi-
lots In this country. The two are
conducting an aerial service with
headquarters here, which is now en-
toying a profitable patronage from
citizens throughout this section of
the state.
When his wife is out OF hearing
distance, Oakley still insists that the
tricks which he at one time per-
formed in the air are as safe as
walking around the block. with the
possible exception OF that in which
the acrobat changes In mid-air from
one plane to another. As for stand
ing on his head on the upper wing,
vi HdUs1nB ny his hhN's AANi' Wv
landing gear, or balancing on the
end OF wing with one foot--these.
he says. arc "as easy as rolling off
a log" and Just as safe.
Oakley's aversion to the plane
changing stunt may be attributed to
a near fatality In which he figured
as the principal character several
years ago, while flying over Dallas,
Texas, He was standing on the up
per wing of a plane several thous-
and feet above the earth in prepara-
lion for the grasping OF "A rope LAD
der attached TO another plane in
order that he might make the
change. The ladder was built OF
rope with iron rungs. on it's bot
TOM 1t carried n 40-pound lead
\ weight so that Il would have in as
vertical a position as possible. While
the pilot of the upper ship was max
Ing effort TO come within range so
that oakley could reach the LADDER
the lead weight became fastened IN
the cabene strut on the upper wing
Of the plane on which Oakley was
standing. Great danger Of the two
planes colliding, resultant OF the at
tachment, to the cabene strut, which
projected several inches above tho
surface OF the plane, was imminent
and Oakley, retaining presence OF
mind, Immediately took steps 10
loosen them. He Kicked NJ the lead
weight and succeeded in unfastenlnG
Il, but as soon ms he had done so, Il
rebounded and struck oakley on the
temple. He was knocked out and
fortunately fell parallel with the
wing on which he was standing. with
one leg through the linen covering,
The fact that he had punched a
hole through the covering saved his
rife for ne was senseless for fully
FOUR minutes. and had he not been
thus fastened, would have fallen
several thousand feet TO the earth
CONTrNstrEn ON pACT TWRltg