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SAFETY FIRST RULES OF THE DEATH-DEFYING LAWS

Looping the Loop Fifteen Somersoults in Succession Is Perfectly Reasonable, Sister Ruth Declares, If You Know the Feel of Your Machine and Are Not Nervous-As for Being Safely Shot Out of a Bursting Balloon in Mid-Air, Why, That Is a Mere Matter of Mathematical Calculation-Brother “Rod” Can Prove it.

[[picture 1]] By American Pressassn Rodman Law, the aerial daredevil who “takes no risks.”

[[picture 2]] Dropping like a plummet from the firmament is safe enough, if worked out mathematically beforehand.

[[picture 3]] Miss Ruth Law, who can fly a mile or two upside down, and whose favourite sports is volplaning 5000 feet.

By Norah Meade.
To the average spectator of aviation stunts, Ruth Law is a wantonly reckless young lady whose death may be not only imminent but even a matter of indifference to her.
And to the normal man in the street, Rodman Law is little less than a lunatic whose mania is the making of daredevil records.
Yet to talk to a member of the Law family is to receive an uncomfortably convincing impression that not only are they quite safely sane, BUT THAT YOU YOURSELF ARE RATHER ABSURDLY HYSTERICAL.

RUTH LAW declares that her loop-making record is fifteen somersaults in succession; that her usual drop is 5,000 feet; that in the matter of cartwheels, she can go twice wing-over-wing without a halt; that a mile and a half is her longest flight upside down; that her altitude record is 11,200 feet, and that she hopes to do 16,000 very soon.
Yet when you venture a heart-felt congratulation on her escape from extinction so far, she looks surprised and observes blandly:
“But, you know, stunt flying is the safest flying that’s why I do it.’

[[picture 4]] “Rod” Law shot from a high-angle gun-“I do think he takes chances.” admits Ruth.

YOU look to brother Rodman for an admission that he at least has been lucky beyond mortal expectation-that a man who has been precipitated without injury from a blazing balloon 1,000 feet to earth, owes some gratitude to the god or goddess of chance-and you are met with:
“I never in my like undertook an enterprise that contained any element of risk.”
“Risk,” says the dictionary, “is the chance of encountering harm.” Judged by this definition, the Law family could not seemingly be declared cautious. I challenged Miss Ruth Law to prove that they abided by the low of “safety first,” and it must be confessed, she at once contradicted her brother chum.
“Oh, I do think Rod takes chances,” she admitted, “though he says he works out all his stunts to the last detail. But I never took a chance in my life.”
Then, seeing her audience still incredulous, she became extremely severe.

RUTH LAW is a fair-haired, rather bronzed young beauty whose eyes are as blue as the skies she soars in and whose smile is sunny as a summer’s day. But when she began this explanation, or rather this apologia pro vita USA, the sunniness vanished and you found yourself confronted by a decisive young woman who reminded you vaguely of a strict schoolma’am.
“Why, it’s perfectly reasonable,” she declared. “The only way to be entirely safe in the air is to be prepared for all contingencies. That’s why stunt flying is the safest.”
Her pupil being dull, she was forced to elaborate.
“For example, once when I was flying in very uncertain weather, the wind caught my machine and practically turned it upside down. If I had not been accustomed to flying in that position, what should I have done”
No answer.
“So you see, it is perfectly reasonable. If you know the feel of your machine and are not nervous, you run no risks. And for every accident there is an adequate explanation.
“Beachy was killed volplaning 5,000 feet. I do the same every day, and nothing happens. Why? Because my machine is the proper make for the purpose. I am very careful, when I curve into the level, to go gently and gradually, so that sudden change in the air pressure may not cause the wings to be crushed. That’s the only danger in volplaning-my favorite sport.”
For looping she gave an infallible recipe, according to her experience: DROP AT AN ANGLE OF FORTY-FIVE, KEEPING YOUR ENGINE FULL SPEED AHEAD. A perfect loop should be accomplished in eight seconds. For cartwheel and for upside-down flying, you have only to use your ruders properly and keep the engine going full blast.
Quite simple, you see, and perfectly reasonable. No excuse for accidents, when you have the recipe.

[[picture 5]] An actual mid-air photograph of Miss Law winging over, preparatory to flying upside down.

BROTHER RODMAN can give one, too: The business of being an aerial artist, of scaling skyscrapers, being shot into the sky or dropping like a plummet from the firmament, is a mere matter of mathematical calculation, a steady nerve and a clear brain.
Anybody with sufficient gray matter can do mathematics. Anybody with sufficient practice may acquire the necessary nerve. Practice? Ascend to a certain height one day, a little higher next. GET ACCUSTOMED TO HEIGHT. AND YOU WILL FORGET TO BE DIZZY. AFTER A VERY LITTLE WHILE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO JUMP. THAT’S THE SECRET.
Quite simple, again, you see, likewise perfectly reasonable.
And yet, somehow, all these explanations left the Laws still unexplained. What was the real secret of their extraordinary temerity:
“Well,” said Miss Law, endeavoring to find first causes, “we had both lived in the open pretty nearly all our lives. We were born in Lynn, Mass., but very early went to live on a farm. There was no form of physical exercise there in which we did not indulge at one time or another. We rode horseback, ran, climbed trees, played tennis. Of course, Rod was always rather reckless.”
Equally of course, Miss Ruth always followed suit.
“Rod wouldn’t be bothered with an aeroplane,” she explained in defence of his ignorance of flying. “He says anybody can handle one of them. So you see,” she added, “I’m a very commonplace person.
So, should you desire to be an aviatrice like Miss Ruth Law, you might keep your eyes fixed on brother Rodman. Than, no matter how daring your exploits in the air, they will seem commonplace in comparison.
And should you wish to rival brother Rodman, study mathematics, accustom yourself to altitudes, and then-and then, perhaps, you will be killed for your pains.

[[picture 6]] [[?]] Remarkable night photograph taken while Miss Law was looping the loop three times over the City of Chicago.

[[image]]
Miss Law expects to make each lap of the track in 20 seconds.

EVERYTHING READY FOR BIG RACE MEET
EVERY CAR IS HERE AND THE TRACK IS BEING THOROUGHLY TRIED OUT.
SOME FAST TIME MADE
Record of One-Half Mile in Thirty-Four and One-Half Seconds Established
Everything is in readiness for the big racing event at the I. and I fairgrounds Saturday afternoon and barring a downpour of rain the event will go according to schedule. The track has been placed in fine condition and there is no question about its being fast. It is the fastest track in the country, and will be kept so during the entire year.
The automobiles are all here and the speed kings who are to pilot on Saturday afternoon have been tuning up their steeds, getting ready for the big contest. One machine has already established a record of half a mile in 34.5 seconds and two others have made the course in 36 seconds flat. Since the fastest time on a dirt track is but 33 seconds for the half mile this is considered excellent time, especially since there is to be more work on the oval before the real speed contests are pulled off.

Ruth Law in Practice.
Ruth Law, who has been giving her entire time to the Red Cross work while in the city this week, has been out to the track a few times, getting acquainted with the grounds. She will race in her own airplane against the fastest of the automobiles and this contest is expected to be exciting enough for anyone. Ruth has showed the people of Danville and Vermilion county that she is heart and soul in the war and is every willing to "carry on" in every possible way, that victory may speedily perch on the banners of United States and her allies. She is just as enthusiastic when it comes to a contest of speed and thousands will root for the plucky American girl Saturday afternoon.

Red Cross Shops to Close.
All the Red Cross shops in the city will close Saturday afternoon, in order that the workers may get a chance to see Miss Law fly. Danville merchants are expecting one of the largest crowds in the city of the year, and the trains and automobiles will bring them from a long distance. Most of the farmers have had a fairly good week and will stop work Saturday noon and motor to Danville for the big racing event.
This is the first big event of the season put on by the fair officials and it is expected that other activities will be given during the summer, leading up to the big annual fair, which will eclipse anything in the country. In case of rain Saturday afternoon the automobile races will be postponed until Sunday afternoon.

Race Officials.
The following race officials have been selected for the Saturday events:
Referee, William Ryan, Jr.; judges, H.J. Sconce and Brian Baum; timers, Dr. H.A. Greer and George Phillips; director of contest, George McCray; clerk of course, George Mann; starter, David M. Fowler; assistant, Leon Friedman.

JAMES E. DOUGHTY SUDDENLY CALLED
PIONEER COAL OPERATOR FALLS DEAD IN HIS OFFICE WESTERN BRICK PLANT.
LONG IN ILL HEALTH
Was General Superintendent of the M. Kelly Mining Interests for Years.
James E. Doughty, a veteran coal operator, many years general superintendent of the M. Kelly mines at Westville and Grape Creek, fell dead at the Western Brick Company's mine, just south of the works at 10:30 o'clock Friday morning. Death must have come to him instantly, as he was dead when his partner, Edward Riley, reached his side, Doughty and Riley were partners in a small coal concern organized especially to get out the coal for the use of the Western Brick plant. They have been partners for several years; previous to that Mr. Doughty and the late Sylvester Parle were engaged in the same contract. Mr. Parke, who died last fall, passed off almost as suddenly and in the same manner almost as Mr. Doughty.
The body was removed to the Gilmore undertaking establishment, prepared for burial and was removed late Friday afternoon to the Doughty residence, 121 Pine street.
Mr. Doughty was a member of the various Masonic bodies of this city and an Elk. He was a native of the Green Mountain state, being born at Montpelier. Vt., April 15, 1856, one of the three children of Milton Doughty.

Supeerintendent Kelly Mine.
He came with his parents to this city when a boy and was early engaged in mine work. When the late Michael Kelly organized the Kellyville Coal company, which brought fame and fortune to him, Mr. Doughty was made general superintendent and was in the same position all through the life of Mr. Kelly. When Mr. Kelly died, Doughty and Sylvester Parle organized the coal company which supplied the brick works with fuel for the kilns and boilers. They started that work about twelve years ago.

Married in Danville.
Mr. Doughty was married in this city thirty-five years ago to Miss Ocleana Morin, daughter of the late D. Morin, who was prominent in the early coal mining operations in this country.
They had five children but only two of them grew up. These were the oldest, Ivan Doughty residing on Kentucky avenue, and the late Russell Doughty. The latter passed away four years ago. The others died in infancy.
Coroner Cole was notified of the sudden death and visited the plant during Friday afternoon, but had fixed no definite hour for the holding of the funeral.

MISSION.
IS MET BY

Transcription Notes:
Left side margin is cut off, did not translate.