The Washington times., 1928-01-10
Ccontinued from FIrst Page)

my fuel supply In picking the next
field.
The sky was overcast with
numerous local storms. ! had
brought along compass. but had
failed to install it on the instru.
ment board, and it was Of little
use in q suitcase out of reach.
The boundary lines in the South
do not run north and south. east
and west as they do in the North
ern States but curve and bend in
every conceivable direction. being
located by natural landmarks
rather than by meridians and
parallels. I was flying by q map
OF the entire United States. with
each State relatively small.
left Meridian and started in the
direction Of Texas, cutting across
country with no regard for roads
or railways. For q time during the
first hour I was not sure of my
location on the map, but soon
passed over a railway intersection
which appeared to be in the proper
place and satisfied me about my
position. Then the territory be-
came wilder and again I saw no
checkpoints. The storm areas were
more numerous and the possible
landing fields farther apart, until
near the end OF the second hour
decided to land in the first avail.
able field to locate my position and
take on m0re fuel. It required
nearly thirty more minutes to find
place in which a plane could land
and take-off with any degree OF
safety. and after circling the field
several times to make sure it was
hard and contained no obstacles, ]
landed in one corner, rolled down 9
hillside, TAXED over a short level
stretch and came to rest halfway
mp the slope on the far side OF the
field.
The Storm
A storm was approaching rapid
" and I TAXED back toward the
fence corner at rather high speed
Suddenly saw a ditch directly in
front OF me and an instant later
heard the crash Of splintering wood
as the landing gear dropped down
and the propeller came in con.
tact with the ground. The tail Of
the plane rose up in the air, turned
almost completely over, then settled
back to about a forty-five-degree
angle. NV first ''crack-upm
i climbed out of the cockpit and
surveyed the machine. Actually
the only damage done was to the
propeller, and although the wings
and fusilage were covered with mud
no other part of the plane showed
anv marked signs Of strain. had
TAXED back about 80 feet east OF
the landing tracks and had struck
the end OF q grass-cCvered often.
Had ] been 10 feet farther over the
accident would never bave happen
ed. The usual crowd was assem-.
bling. as the impact Of the prop
with the ground had been heard In
All the neighborfng fields. and an
airpIane was a rare sight In those
parts.
They informed me that was half
way between Maben and Mathison
Miss, and that had flown lbs miles
north instead Of west.
When enough men mad assembled
we lifted the plane out OF the ditch
pushed II over to a group of pine
LI&CG GAlA I1CA ~ uOWA ~ WV Va SAAG
trees. After removing all loose
equipment I rode into Maben with
one OF the storekeepers, who had
locked UP his business wnen he heard
about the landing Of the plane.
I wired Wyche. at Americas, tc
ship me one of the two propellers
I had purchased before leaving, then
engaged a room at the old Southern
Hotel.
While waiting for the propeller
had extracted promises from half a
dozen citizens to ride at S. each.
This would about cover the cost OF
the "prop," as well as my expenses
while waiting for It to arrive. When
It did come put 1t on the shaft be.
tween showers, with the assistance
OF most Of Maben and Mathison. 7
gave the plane test flight and an.
nounced that was ready to carry
passengers when 1t was not raining
too hard.
The Mississippians who were so
anxious to fly when the propeller
was broken Immediately started a
contest in etiquette. Each and every
one was quite willing 20 let someone
else be first, and 1t required phychol.
ogy, diplomacy and ridiculg before
the first passenger climbed into the
cockpit. I TAXED over to the far
corner Of the field, instructed nv
passenger how to hold the throttle
oack to keep the ship from taking
OH, and lifted the tail around in or.
DER to gain every available foot of
space for the take-off.
The first man was so audibIy
pleased with his ride that the others
forgot their manners OF a few min
utes before and began arguing about
who was to be next.
Copyright, 1928. by Charles A.
Lindbergh)
ITO Re Continued Tovoo..o.vA