davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-21
Block Sfor

make the test. Irwin turned out to be former
circus high diver and a balloon jumper who
obviously knew his way around in the air.
So, with Floyd Smith at the planes controls
and the new parachute strapped to his back,
young Irwin, on April g. 1919. made the
first free jump on record.
Thousands who gathered below to watch
the nut commit suicide were amazed to
see him land safely More important, score
of top-ranking officers in military aviation
were convinced. albeit reluctantly, that it
could be done. And on that day the parachute
really became the life preserver of the
air"
To us sedentary folk who consider para
chuting the last word in personal risk. it is
interesting to note that the man who de-
signed the first free parachute and the man
who made the first jump in it are both alive
and very healthy % years later Irwin is chief
engineer of a British parachute factory; Smith
is the same for a friendly American rival
And, due to their pioneering, over 1000
fiers in this country alone have escaped from
disabled ships and lived to tell it.
The services of the Smith family to para
chuting, however, by no means end with the
contributions of husband and wife A new
figure appears on the scene now in the per-
son of their son, Provost. A graduate aero
nautical engineer, Provost Smith has joined
his father on the research angle and has de-
veloped the worlds first parachute testing
tower. From boom on this 5O-foot structure
a chute on dummy can be whirled at any
desired speed, opened at will, and the action
studied at leisure in slow motion movies made
by camera on the tower arm
"A great thing" says Smith the elder, not
without pride. I'm the past we've tossed dunn
mics out of planes and tried to watch them
on the way down - which has limitations
Now we can actually see everything chute
does, repeated fifty times if need be- This is
just like the wind tunnel for airplanes and
will prove just as valuable"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-21
IN article Complete on This Page


. VP IN Manchester, Conn.,, one Floyd
Smith chuckled reminiscently when he
~ read in his newspaper this October
that Arthur Starnes, veteran parachutst had
just achieved free fall' of 28,5OO feet
before pulling his rip cord.
Starnes's feat was no stunt but a scientific
test in the interest of Air Corps research.
And Floyd Smith chuckled because it was
not so many years ago that aviation bgwlgS
scoffed at his crazy notion that any man could
jump from plane and retain consciousness
long enough to open his own parachute.
Approaching 60, Smith is a unique figure
in aviation In fact his whole family is unique
A former circus aerialist who married his
partner in the act, Hilder YOungberg, he is
the man who perfected today's parachute
Quitting the circus, he and his wife built
tractor biplane in 1912 which Smith taught
himself to fly in six easy lessons! A month
later the dauntless couple flew AZ miles in
81 minutes to break the existing speed record
for airplanes. Several years later Floyd him
self set three altitude records for seaplaneS.
Settling down to this new game in earnest,
the one-tme trapeze artist became test
pilot for Glenn Martin. And after nerve
wracking cack-up from 500 feet in dis
abled plane - from which he was lucky
enough to walk away - he added parachutes
to his interests in a serious way.
Buying one in preparation for the next
crack-up of test ship, he made three or four
practice jumps to see what it was like In
trigued by his description of this new thrill,
his wife took a fling at it herself. Her first
jump went off all right. But her second was
the last she ever tried: getting fouled in the
lines. she dropped to within 400 feet of the
ground before the recalciuant chute finally
opened - in the nick of time.
The shock of that incident convinced Smith
that the idea of the attached chute which
then prevailed was all wet. Ever since Leo
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-21

nardo da Vinci had designed the first one,
chutes had always been fastened with light
cord to the balloon or. later. the plane from
which man jumped When the silken canopy
was pulled from its rack overhead by the
jumper, the cord helped jerk the chute open,
then was snapped by the jumpers weight.
Aside from the great risk of fouling, how
ever, there were certain spin conditions in a
plane in which man couldn't get his chute
free 80" reasoned the former aerialist,
'the thing to do is to carry the chute on your
back and open it yourself when you're clear"
This remember was only % years ago -
yet everybody snorted at the outlandish idea.
They got their pencils and showed him that
man who jumped from plane would fall
ll9 miles an hour. You couldn't stand it"
they said. Your faculties would fail. You'd
lose consciousness. You'd be dead before
you got the chute OPEN"
'Baloney!" said Smith quietly. 1--WE nose
dived faster than that in an open cockpit
plane. I've fallen from the top of circus tent
to a net scores of times, and never lost my
faculties
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-21
They've Got TO be Good

kT'S such good record, in fact, that we
take it for granted - yet this superlative
performance doesn't just happen. The para
chute represents generations of trial and error
and its operation encompasses far more prac-
teal physics than is apparent to the eye.
In early Army tests, for example, they had
men jumping off ladders with ropes tied
around their chests to see how much shock
they could stand when brought up short -
as when parachute opens. They found that
a II foot drop was enough to knock man
unconscious - and on that basis that mod
ern harness was designed to dissipate and dis
tribute the shock of the opening impact.
That was no problem for the old balloon
jumpers, but it became real one when
planes began to move fast. And it reached its
ultimate a few weeks ago when test pilot
with one of Floyd Smith chutes bailed out
of an Airacobra diving at more than 800 miles
an hour. Without scientifically designed har-
ness, the shock of being jerked from speed
of over 300 miles an hour to about II miles
an hour would be fatal
The parachute has come long way since
da Vlnci - thanks to the Floyd Smiths.
The End
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-21

The point he makes is that while there has
been a lot of jumping in the past 20 years,
there has been little scientific thought about
it. The vast majority of jumps have been in
a crisis when the act seemed slightly lesser
evil than death. And those who have made
the most jumps - oldtimers like Stub"
Campbell and John Tranum with 1000 or
more - were stunt men, not engineers.
Now the engineering mind is going to find
out some things. For instance, they want to
know why one test chute will explode while
another, under more severe conditions, will
operate perfectly. Or why one turns inside
out and the next one becomes 'streamer"
doesn't OPEN while 10 more in the same
batch of silk all behave beautifully.
Only the good ones go to market of course,
for all chutes are drop tested" And when
you consider the difficulties under which they
are used usually without previous expe-
rience) and note that the vast majority of the
relatively few fatalities have been among
stunt jumpers, you realize what sterling
record the life preserver of the air has.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

Marshall Succeeded Alex Do Detroit Edison President

much impressed that he not only
rejected the proffered resignation,
but also entrusted his own per-
sonal financial affairs to Jones,
who for many years thereafter
held Mr.. Dohertys power of at
torney.
Long before the crash. Jones
had a clear vision of prospective
changing conditions. His foresight
won him important recognition in
the company, and by general con-
sent he was picked as Mr. DOH
erty's successor.
Presiding over vast assets,
Jones, ex-Missouri farm boy, sit
ting down in his Wall Street cita-
del. still possesses many of his
early Middlewest traits of direct
ness and of capacity for making
friends.
Following in the footsteps of
Wendell L. WHlkie has become
something of a habit to Justin R.
Whiting. When, in 1888, Mr.. Will
kie left the law firm of Weadock
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

partment In 1918, member Of the
law firm of White 81 Case, and
more lately member of the corpo-
rations' own board of directors
and finance committee.
Mr.. Olds was just finishing his
duties as special counsel for the
steel corporation. directing studies
of various subjects pertaining to
United cx-StcrizaIId- titIl1-Stpai
industry in relation TO the TNEC
inquiry, when he was elected
chairman. Mr. Olds has the dis
tinction of being both a Yale
CCIass of 1907. and Harvard
(Class Of 1910 Law SCHOOL, man.
Versatility and personal charm
helped to quicken Philip d, Reeds
phenomenal rise in business. Mt
40, at the beginning of this year,
he stepped into the shoes of Owen
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05
National Health
Fundamental 10
Defense Aims
u. S. Mobilizing It's
Resources to T his
End, Says Expert
Bv THOMAS PARRAN
surgeon General. United states
Public Health Service

Fundamental to the defense
AIMS Of this country is the con-
servation Of manpower and of
national health. The United States
Public Health Service, along with
other governmental and private
agencies is modifying its re-
sources 10 this end.
In planning for health defense,
we are faced with many problems.
We must make sure that the pres
ent world conflict does not cut us
off from essential imported drugs
We must be prepared with ample
supplies of preventive vaccines TO
stop the spread of epidemic dis
eases. We must be ready with
sfy7it n IA 4 information as to-tf1e
physicians. dentists, nurses. tech
nicians and other personnel avail
able in this country for the
protection of civilian health.
Progress has already been made
towards these ends. Reserve
stocks of opium, for use in allevia-
ton of pain. have been built up
10 meet a three-year demand. In
addition. large quantities of Gin
chona bark from which quinine is
produced. as well as a considerable
supply of quinine Sulphate have
heen ir1norted
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

His first contact with Detroit
Edison came in 1904, when he
worked as engineer on construction
work for a year. By 1913, he had
risen to be vice president of the
company. And finally, when Alex
Dow resigned as president to be-
come chairman of the executive
committee. Marshall was the
choice to succeed him.
Walter S, Carpenter Jr.. new
president of f. l. du Pont de
Nemours &, Co. has the distinction
of being the first person not of the
Du Pont family to head the enter
prise. since Antoine Biderman, a
son-in-law of the founder. headed
the company for two and a half
years a century ago.
Retiring president, Lammot du
Pont, paid tribute to his skill,
when he said Carpenter was lin
the prime of managerial life, of
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05
Life Insurance
Payments SET :.
Airline High
Benehciaries, Policy
Holders Paid Over :
2 Billions in Year
BY HOLGAR j. JOHNSON
President, Institute of Life Insurance

American families received an
average of 1897 900 daily
throughout 1910 in payments from
life insurance companies.
This was the highlight of year
of notable gains for life insurance.
which saw new all-time highs set
for the total payments and credits
to policyholders and beneficiaries.
the total of protection owned by
Americans and the total Of assets
standing as guarantees back OF
that insurance in force.
The payments TO policyholders
and beneficiaries. aggregating ST.
700 100000, an increase of S59.000,-
600 over 1889. were double the
total paid out in 1925 and 16 times
the amount in 1900 showing the
persistent increase in the-fiow of
benefits from this basic form of
protection in which America leads
the world.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05
Equities Increased

OF this total sum. payments 10
widows. children and other bene-
ficiaries amounted 10 approxi-.
mately 1865, 100000. In contrast
with the days when life insurance
was considered a "die-to-win"
proposition, however, living policy
holders in 1910 received nearly
81 yz7t 3,55 .eee. 800 in tine form OF ma
tured endowments. annuities. disa-
bility benefits. emergency 40
through cash values and dividen
In addition to these payment
the equity of policyholders in their
policies increased an estimated
Sf375. 100000. making grand
total of over four billions Of dol
lars either paid out. credited or
dccruing to the interest of policy
holders and beneficiaries in 1910.
a new all-time high.
The unfavorable feature of the
year was the continued decline in
the return on the investments of
policyholders funds. reflecting the
drop of interest rates TO new lows.
If the earnings rate OF 10 years
had been applied 10 life in
surance investments in 1910. there
would have been approximately
800 600, 600 more available 10 re-
duce the cost of life insurance 10
pOlIcN holders
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05
YelloU Feuer Vaccine

A large supply of yellow fever
Vaccine hae-eeeh manufactured to
meet possible demands should
yellow fever spread from South
America to etlE- island possessions,
the Canal Zone, and to southern
United States.
TyphuS fever is the traditional
scourge of war-torn countries. 1t
is gratifying. therefore. to report
that during the past year vac
cine was developed which offers
real hope for protecting untold
thousands against epidemic typhus
fever.
To meet the forward movement
of national defense, special
conference of state and territorial
health officers was called in Sep
TENDER. Members of the National
Advisory Health Council, officials
of the army and navy. other fed
eral- services, private agencies and
professional groups attended. OF
the various plans of action dis
cussed at this meeting, several
have already been put into effect.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

All during Mr. Wilkes we'll
known spectacular fight against
the IVA and against the destruc-
ton of utility holding companies
threatened in the enforcement of
the public utility holding act OF
1885, Mr.. Whiting was a formid-
able ally. AS a consequence, Mr..
Whiting brings TO his job an inti-
mate knowledge of the affairs of
c. e. S. as we'll as of the COM
plexities of utility regulation.
Whiting is a native of st. Clair.
Mich. where he was born 81 years
ago, the son of an erstwhile MEM
Der of Congress. He began the
practice of law in Michigan. and
among his early clients were COM
panies affiliated with the prede-
cessors of Commonwealth and
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

June, upon the death of the foc-
mer president, W. II. Berg, Collier
was called back from Japan TO
take over the presidency of the
company.
Today, at Ga. Collier is as hale.
hearty and aggressive as he was
in his earlier days as an oiler.
Though his hair is now snow
white, he is still considered the
company's most vigorous and
hardest-hitting salesman.
When William Alton Jones was
employed, after leaving Wander
bilt University IS years ago, as
cashier in a public utility sub
sidiary of the far-fung Cities
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

sonal secretary and gave him a
chance to understudy him.
Convinced that Thomas was fit
for bigger and better responsible
ties, Mr.. Litchfield made him in
turn director of factory personnel,
then superintendent of the Los
Angeles plant in 1928, director OF
Goodyear's British subsidiary in
1888, assistant to the president n
1886 and executive vice president
in 1888. MIR. Thomas is still known
to almost every one in the COM
pany as Eddie. even though he
recently succeeded to his former
boss job.
The career of Alfred {. Marsh
all. newly-chosen president of sue
ceSsful Detroit Edison Company,
reads like the story of a man who
(a) knew all the time lust where
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

his working life. in fact ever since
he left Cornell University. His first
Job was an inconspicous one in the
purchasing dcpa -tment of the COM
pany. Promotions followed one
another until 1890 when he be-
came vice president and chairman
of the finance committee The du
Pont family saw in Carpenter
just the type that would continue
in the du Pont tradition, and. ac-
cordingly. when Eammot du Pont
rcSigneC TO become chairman. Car
pcnter was elected president.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

manager and finally managing
director.
Further recognition of his work
came in 1920, when he was given
his first executive post in the
American Locomotive Company,
that of vice president. a position
he held until his promotion this
year.
Back in 1903. the 27syear-old
oiler of a Seattle TO Tacoma
tanker, made a decision. Watching
boom towns spring up in a fever
ISL search for oil, II. D. Collier
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

He joined Guardian Life in 1920
as an agency assistant. In four
years he became superintendent OF
agencies and in another year in
spector of agencies. Promotion TO
superintendent of agencies and to
agency vice president came in
1923 and 1890.
Duncan w. Fraser, who assumed
the presidency of the American
Locomotive Company in 1910,
stepped in on the ground floor of
an upturn in his industry. For,
nr,if1narilN as a fnSIllt of the n1Iick-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

since 1926. He served as assistant
TO the vice president of the COM
pany's law department and later
as general counsel TO the incan-
descent lamp division until two
years before being chosen chair
man. In the two previous years
of grooming, he acted as assistant
TO the retiring president, Gerard
Swope.
One policy both the railroads
and the insurance companies seem
TO share in common is the belief
that no man should hold a respon-
sible position until he has passed
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

special opportu-
mites open to
intelligent pri-
vate secretaries.
After he had
started with the
company as a
stenographer in
{ he chemical
department. his
quiet efficiency
attracted Paul
w. Litchfield,
who retired as
president of the
company ] a s I
A u G u S I. MIR.
Litchfield made
Thomas his per-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

Reed, they decided that they
could teach law to man like
him. trained in the fundamentals
of engineering. more readily than
they could ground a lawyer in
the principles of engineering
Eager to equip himself. Reed took
a law course AT Fordham AT night
while working in law office in
the day time.
Mr.. Reed has been with G.. y.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

d. Y o u n & as
c h air man OF
the Gen Q r a ]
Electric Com
pant.
His first reg
ular job after
taking an en-
gin G G ring ue-
gree was with
a patent law
ir m, w h i c h
wanted a PROM
lSlng man who
un d erSt 90 d
both engineer
,Hr N - a fl,n
! a w. A ( [ er
meeting p nil
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05


he was going,
Cb) knew how
he WAS going 10
get there, and
(c) why.
From Middle
te~n.- where
he was born in
1872, MarShalls
family moved
TO ID g [ + o /
W h @ r { young
Marshall r O.
Ceived his ele-
nnentarY school
ing. Later, he
went TO the
University o (
VI i c h 10 an.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05


d e CT d e d he'd
give up the sea
a n d seek his
fortune in the
oil industry.
T h e ye a r s
have Pre- v e n
I h e wisdom of
I h a I decision.
From a water
front salesman
for the Stand
ard Oil Com
pany of Cali
fornia, Collier
in time rose to
b e com it's
s c NOR V c e
president. Last
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

where he received his bachelors
degree in electrical engineering.
His first job was that of engi-
neer with the Public Lighting
Commission of Detroit, which he
held until he became chef tffgt-
nccr for the rapid railway system.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

proven ability
and extraordi-
n airy energy"
Physically. Car
penter is of
slight build with
p + EN- a tn rely
gray hair. He IS
50 years old. He
has no grand IL
fuSionS a b o ut
his job. regard
ing himself , as
an ord in airy
business man.
Carpenter has
been with the
du Pont Com
pany all during
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05
Howell Electric Co.
ADDS 10 lis Plant

LANSING, Jan. f.-The Howell
Electric Motor Company has an
nounced that it Will erect a one
story addition to its plant at cost
of about sos 600. The conStruc-
ton contract has been awarded to
II. 6. ChriStman.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

and Willkie to
b e come Presi-
dent Com
monwealth and
Southern, MIR.
w h itin & fell
heir to his part
nership. Again,
in 1910. when
Mr.. Willkie re-
signed his c. q
S. post to be-
come the Re-
publican candi-
date for presi-
dent, Mr.. Whit
ing took over
the direction of
the company.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

his SiXtie I h
birthday. + or
that reason. no
small surprise
was oecaSioned
last J a n u a ry
W h e n I h e
Guardian Lif G
Insurance Com
pany selected a
man of AZ 10 be
its new presi-
dent.
For that mat
ter. Mr.. McL.ain
" a S ly 81
when he already
wa a Guardian
Life vice presi-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

Service empire,
he little real
lied that at 40
he would be
c h o S e n presi-
d e n t of t h G
h ol ding COM
pany, which had
been built up
b y til e ! a I c
Henry L. Doh
-erty INTO a bill
lion dollar oil
and utility or
ganization.
Jones work
in Joplin, Mo,
attracted I h e
favor a hle At
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

have TO look
far aheld for a
new chairman
TO direct its
dc stin lie :. II
found one right
on its pay roll
in the person
Of 53-year-old
Irving s a n q $
Odds, one time
secretary TO the
! a [ e supreme
Court Justice,
Oliver Wendell
Holmes. a spe-
cial assistant in
I h q Tn g d
STATES War De-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

eninC of the
d @ ( e n Sc pro-
gram and the
concOuitant in
credScS IN rail-
road traffic and
in c o m @, the
railroads have
resumed their
| on G deferred
pure h asses of
much needed
equipment.
Mr.. Fraser's
new post CHI
naxeS-a career
in the railroad
equipment in
lustrV. A native
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

-tention of Mr.. Doherty's partner
in New York, who brought him to
the metropolis for grooming for
further promotion. Then Jones
sponsor passed on. and Jones went
10 Mr.. Doherty TO hand in his
resignation. Before the interview
was over. Mr.. Doherty was so
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

1t took Edwin J. Thomas ex-
actly "a years to change his status
in the Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company from stenographer to
president.
Mr.. Thomas rise eXemplifies the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

When Young Ed Stettinius
was called down 10 Washington
10 serve on the National Defense
Commission the United
States Steel Corporation did not
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

of Nova Scotia, he served his app
premiership at The Rhode Island
Locomotive Works. When, in 1904,
the American Locomotive Com
pany acquired the Montreal Loco
motive Works. Ltd. he was trans
ferred TO that company. of which
he successfully became works
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05

Chairman Of the Board
Geo. B. Judson
President
Henry T. Ewald
Vice-President
Frank p. Evans, Jr.
Vioe-P President
Benjamin F. Saylor
Vioe-Prcsidenf
John N. Daley
Vice-PreSidenf
Fred c. SchIorf
Cashier
Evan Prowse
assistant Cashier
Leo J. Coleman
ASSISTANT Cashier
Vim. E. Griswold
ASSISTANT Cashier
Norbert II. Wiesler
ASSISTANT Cashier
Clifford H. Hyett
ASSISTANT Cashier
Albert c. Voss
ASSISTANT Cashier
Lou A. Wilson
Assistant Casino,
Arlie R. Trahern
ASSISTANT Cashier