Evening star., 1928-05-20
Lindbergh Coup Was Successful

This was more like II. The spectators
relaxed their Sulking attitude, and some
reseated themselves to enjoy the spec
/ tacle in comfort.
The ship came to a position directly
opposite the grand stand and above the
west boundary of the field.
| At this juncture Lindy pushed his joy
stick to the right and the left wing went
up. AS he did so a mans body dropped
like a shot, apparently from the floor OF
the fuSelage.
There he goes!" and a cheer rose
from the crowd.
But the cheer was short lived. No
parachute had opened. and the man
was falling with sickening speed. On
and on he dropped. but no billowing
silk shot out TO spread above him and
slacken his fall. In few seconds ne
struck the earth in the field on the
other side of the road with horrible
and unaccountably metallic thud.
For an instant the crowd stood still.
stricken to immobility Then great
shout went up and people from all parts
of the fair grounds started on DEAD
run for the field in which presumably
the Inflated captain lay. They went
through the lo-foot board fence as
though II was paper, and in less than
five minutes a mob of 5000 swarmed
into the fleld with more coming from
every direction. The fall had been wit
messed from the town of Rocky Ford.
about a mile distant. and shortly the
road was packed with automobiles.
But the later arrivals were amazed to
hear those ahead of them break into
laughter as they bent above the prone
figure on the ground. This laughter.
mixed with a few indignant curses,
spread rapidly as the cause became APP
{ al
was in an uproar of merriment.
1t was not the captain who had
fallen, but dummy made of an old
pair of coveralls and a shirt belonging
TO Iindy stuffed with another pair OF
coveralls and various odds and ends OF
rags and waste used for cleaning up
the ship. III one of the legs OF the
dummy was the ships tool Kit, which
had been thrown in SO that the figure
would fall instead of float down through
the air.
While every one was in the field where
the dummy had fallen. Lindy landed on
the grounds again and TAXED up to the
starting line. His face wore vide,
happy grin. and the captain was laugh
ing uproariously They waited while
the crowd filtered Shamefacedly back.
When they had gathered around in
what he considered SUFFICIENT number
and began demanding explanations. the
captain mounted the center section and
addressed the multitude through his
megaphone,
He announced that now that he had
had his little Joke at the expense Of the
crowd, he was prepared To repay them
for It, and In consequence they were
about To witness the most spectacular
air carnival ever held on earth. II the
ladies and gentlemen would be KIND
enough to clear the field and find seats
in the grand stand, they would be able
To witness this tremendous exhibition
for the inconsiderate sum of so cents,
payable at the end of the stadium on
entering
Capt, Vaughn warmed 10 his task and
made speech that would have done
credit To Il Coney Island barker. The
result was that something Ike anM
people gave up the SO cents u hsad
necessary To procure seats IN the grand
stand.
That night. as usual after an exhiel~
tinn, there was a checking mp ana diei-
sion of the spoilS, each man getting u
previously agreed upon percentage.
What Lindy'S share amounted tn | do
not know, but II must have seemed an
important sum To the lad who, three
years from that time, was 10 have his
personal fortune estimated At n million
dollars,
The captain luhilantly stamped h.s
cork leg on the floor OF the StuEfy, gas
lii box oftioe where the division Of spnils
was going on as he carefully sorted out
the silver and bils
Suddenly an eager look came into his
eyes,
What dye say To throwing party
tonightp" he said, looking about at his
crew with the air Of one inspired, You
can't spend much In this burg and
We'll have plenty left, What dye say"
Great" assented Rust,
How about II, i,lndya"
Lindbergh rose slowly and amhled
over to the door, pausing on the
threshold,
"Busted shock cord on that last
landing" he said, Guess Ill wind on
4 new one" And he was gone,