The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-09
KILLING is JUNK CLIMAX


I IFE has been just one I'M
Il happy landing after another
for Mrs. Jessie NJ. Keith-Miller.
The jinx that has pursued her
ever since she took up aviation
is clinging 70 her like a Stowa-
way to a wheel strut.
Recently you've read how her
fiance was found slain in her
home in Miami. Fla; how she
first was suspected, finally to be
cleared, of being involved in a
sinister love triangle; how her
flying partner and manager, Cap
tain w. n. Lancaster. was held
in connection with the crime.
But trouble is an old story TO
the little Australian women. And
here is what has happened since
the day in 1925 when she decided
to become an aVatrix:
TN the first place, she thought
Il that her husband. Melbourne
newspaper man, would be proud of
her as a pilot instead OF as "a
prosaic house wife
Instead, their marriage was
wrecked. Her flying took her TO
far-away places for long periods
of time. Finally, less than year
ago. he divorced her.
It was Lancaster, formerly OF
the Royal Air Force, who taught
her to fly, and from that time on
the two were firm friends.
Early in 1923, after she had be-
come skilled at the controls, they
planned 13.000-mile hop from
London TO Australia.
With a toothbrush, comb and
single change Of clothing, she set
out gsily on an adventure that
was planned to require but six
weeks.
On the very first day they were
forced down by fog. Shortly after
ward they encountered a sand
storm between Palestine and Bag
dad and had to seek refuge at a
desert post.
Magnetic trouble halted them at
Bagdad, and a piston jammed in
India. and again in Burma.
Taking off from Rangoon, they
discovered and battled a huge
snake that had crawled into the
ship. Mrs. Keith-Miller was in
the cockpit when they left Ba-
tavia, and the motor stalled. Her
nose was broken and the plane
had to be rebuilt at Singapore.
They got to Australia, but the trip
took five months.
n
THE pair came to America and
Il Mrs. Keith-Miller was forced
down by water in the gasoline
when she attempted a hop TO
Bermuda.
Later in 1923, she failed in sew
eral attempts To start from
Hampton Roads, Va. In 1929 she
won the fiftyamile flying event
for women at the Cleveland air
races.
But two months later, while
participating in the national tour,
she deliberately ound-looped
her ship and smashed her excel
lent chance of winning when a
small boy ran in front Of her
plane as she was making land
ing.
For a time. in 1880. her jinx
seemed to have been shaken of,
for she clipped two transcontinen-
tai speed records for women. In
November, flying solo. she was &C
claimed for her twelve-hour hop
from Pittsburgh to Havana.
DUT her jinx caught up with
ID her there. She determined
to fly back TO Pittsburgh in the
plane. which she previously had
described as an "unairworthy
crate"
1t had killed two test pilots a
year before. and had been re-
built for her use.
A heavy gale blew Mrs. Keith
Miller off her course. Her COM
pass failed; her gasoline ran low.
Sighting one of the barren Ba-
hama islands. she landed five
miles back in the bush. finally
made her way to a hut. and for
three days. until she was discov-
cred. had nothing to eat but paw
paws.
Finally. however. her ship was
transported to Miami, and she
gsmely took of again for Pitts
burgh. She crashed at Jackson
vile. Penniless and i'll, she
dropped out of the picture for a
time.
Mrs. Keith Miller was planning
a come back in the flying game
when the recent tragedy robbed
her Of her fiance, Haden Clarke,
an author who was writing the
story of her life.
But the vivacious. ninety-pound
aviatrix says she'll carry on. She'll
finish the book, she'll aid in the
defense Of Captain Lancaster,
and she'll fly again. Also. she
says, she'll lick that jinx.