Page:The Fun of It.pdf/226

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
188
THE FUN OF IT

tanks, of necessity, had been so placed that in order to drain them entirely she had to rock the plane and splash fuel into the carburetor. Bobbing along thus, she reached the vicinity of Twenty-third Street when the motor began to give more trouble than ever. She used the last of her fuel to gain al­titude and then with a dead stick glided to a pre­determined landing spot on Governor’s Island.

What a welcome she received! General Leonard Wood greeted her and bands played and flags flew. She was given the Aero Club Medal of Merit and $2500. The great explorers Amundsen and Peary were among those who acclaimed her, as did also very generously, Victor Carlstrom whom she had vanquished.

The following years for Ruth Law were filled with all kinds of activities, including barnstorming. One colorful incident stands out particularly. Until 1916, the statue of Liberty was lighted only by the electric bulbs in the lifted torch. The New York World waged a successful campaign to have the whole figure adequately illuminated. President Wilson and Ruth Law were the headliners on the first night of the new lights. He was to press the button to turn them on and she was to fly as a feature. The performance went off as scheduled, with Miss Law appearing out of the darkness car­rying magnesium flares on her wing tips and the word “Liberty” in electric lights on the under sur­face.

After a few years of barnstorming during which