Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1912 — HIS OF FLYERS [ARTICLE]

HIS OF FLYERS

Aviators Pin Faith on Most Peculiar Mascots. Part of Machine in Slight Accident Regarded by Many as Indispensable in Subsequent Flights.

London. —’Tin sick and tired of believing nothing that can’t be proved,” was the remark made not long ago by a man whose whole life is spent in mechanical and scientific experiment and who would be the last you would think to be touched by the very slightest breath of superstition. Many airmen are evidently of the same opinion, for they pin their faith on the oddest of charms, and many of them have the strongest, though often secret, belief in omens, mascots and luck bringers, says Answers. Mr. Cody is at present flying a machine which, as he laughingly remarks, is a sort of resurrection pie, being made up of portions taken from many other defunct machines. Now a part of the machine which has been in an accident, yet'- an accident without serious results, is held to be lucky. But it would take a very brave airman to use any portion of a plane that killed its pilot Le Blon was one of those very brave m,en, and it is said that when his career was ended by falling Into the sea at San Sebastian in April, 1910, there was built Into the plane which fell with him some jpars from the machfne In which poor De la grange met his end. It Is ancient history that Santos-Du-mont never went aloft without his medallion of the Virgin which was given to him by the Princess Isabel

There are many other pilots who will not fly without having/some similar charm about them. Hirtch, the well-known German aviator, once had a fall over fifty feet, from which by a sort of miracle he came out quite unhurt. Since then he treasures the shirt which he wore upon that occasion. He will not allow It to be washed, and when he makes ready to fly he Invariably ties it around his waist under hla clothes. One English pilot never goes up without his tiger whisker being safely stored in his pocket. Whether Grahame-White has any real belief or not in the efficacy of a

mascot, he has been known to use more than one, and use them quite openly, too. A little red velvet shoe has been noticed tied to the machine just above his head. A bunch of white heather, a knot of violet ribbon and a small golliwog of peculiar hideousness are among his other amulets. Speaking of golliwogs, Wlentziers will never fly without his monkey. This is a most ordinary-looking child’s toy covered with, brown velvet and with black, beady eyes. But Wientziers has a most intense belief in its efficacy, and so far events have Justi- _ fled his belief, for he has never yet been damaged at all seriously.