Evening star., 1932-04-03


The bundled-up figure of man trudsing
through the deep drifts OF snow seemed 10
quicken his pace as he beheld the Two PARK
rangers In the distance As he neared them,
the two rangers were puzzled no longer over
the identity of the solitary figure whose presence
IN the SeQuoia National Park at that particu-
lar time especially during such severe snow
Storm had SO mystffied them. He was dressed
in 4 flying suit, and the mass OF SILK ana
shroud lines carried under his arm eloquentiy
told the story of his plight. 1t could be seen
that he was pretty well exhausted, for his steps
faitered as he approached the two rangers.
Quick Bill Let's get him to headquarters
pronto! He locks all I'M"
And so the young flyer was rushed to the
headquarters Of the park rangers, placed before
q warm fire and then given nourishment.
"Wel1, young man." said one OF the rangers,
after the flyer appeared to be himself again,
'how long did you trudge through this park
after you jumped from your plane?"
"since IL O'Clock yesterday morning" he
replied.
HIN. That means that you have been on
the go for nigh onto "a hours. Well you sure
did have a tough time of it, young man. It's
wonder t. that you came through as well
as you did"
YES it was tough experience and no
mistake, much worEe that that rainy night in
Hawaii when I was flying a glider for an
endurance record"
you must De LlSuL. WllldM n IOCkc, j., VI
the Air Corps" spike up another one of the
rangers I've read about you breaking that
glider endurance record last December"
you've guessed It,"
Reckon the kind of weather we have out
here doesn't hit you very well" ...
You're right I've been in the Hawaiian
Islands fer year, and raw weather starts
me shivering. We don't get this kind of
weather down in Texas where I come from"
How come you jumped from your airplane?"
several asked. Well, we-that Is. Lieut..
Edward D. Hoffman and I-were flying from
Grif1th Park at Glendale, Calf, to Crissy
Field, where stationed We took off at
800 in the morning with Lieut.. Hoffman
plotting. At $50 had climbed to $4,000
feet and ran into a cloud bank We had been
attempting TO go over. Lieut. Hoffman turned
the ship approximately 180 degrees to get out
of the clouds. but We lost altitude in this turn
and we're flying completely blind All sense of
direction was lost and we were losing altitude
rapidly. When the altimeter read $4,000 feet,
I made a sign to Lieut. Hoffman that was
going to jump. took off my gloves, waited
fer him to stall the ship. then jumped out head
first counted five and pulled the rip cord of
my parachute
Took some nerve to jump out didn't it?"
Not much The moment before leaving
the ship did feel certain reluctance ID
jump. but then thought of the ship flying
head on into the mountains which l believed
jumping 1 had little sensation of falling but
knew tumbIing although all vision was OBJ
scured by the clouds expected Lieut.. Hoffman to
leave the ship and follow me, but saw no open
parachute and just caught f1eeting glimpse Of
the ship as it disappeared in the clouds.
The snow eased my landing and I had
feeling OF great relief to be back on the ground,
although 1 had little knowledge of my
position and believed myself to be in in
accessible country with little hope of immediate
outside aid. gathered up my parachute and
started walking TO keep from freezing. was
almost ready to give UP when saw two of yoa
men in the distance Just as I reached the road
way"
so you're now one of the Caterpillar Club?"
Yes. and believe there are now more
than, 400 OF them in this country I don't
believe any Of them relisf1ed the thought of
jumping with their parachute But when the
time comes when you must jun'p, the para
chute is a mighty handy thing to have
around" t.- ..i ISL rjs@
Tell us about your glider flight, lieutenant"
chorused several of the Rangers.