George E Westinghouse High School - Sketch Book Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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At twelve o'clock noon the next day jock Macllougal was killed by his own horses and wagon besides the coal breaker. He was leaning on the wheel of the wagon smoking his pipe when something frightened the horses and they bolted. Poor jock was crushed and instantly killed as he slipped under the wheels. After that, the Carter twins always declared that what they had seen that late Saturday night was not the real ,lock with his team and wagon, but a prophesy- ing vision. Many doubted them. The mine has long been out of use and the breaker has disappeared 3 but many old-timers claim that if one goes to the scene of jock's tragedy on a full-moon night at that most mysterious of all hours, he may see old -lock MacDougal smoking his old corncob pipe as he leans back against his wagon which stands. its four horses motionless before it. PHILIP VVALKER ,?...O-i.,..- THE UNIVERSAL IINX T NYAS Dave's first parachute jump. The last one of the squad to try it, now that his time had come, he had his frequent premonition that all was not going to go right. His coming to Universal Flying Field had been more or less a jinx to both himself and to the other young aviators. He mussed up, somehow or other, everything he attempted. His first solo Hight ended by his nearly getting killed because of a smashed landing gear. The next time, he forgot to look up on the takeoff and forced another cadet, who was landing, to crack up in his effort to miss Dave. Everyone was required to make a jump to pass the final test and Dave had dreaded his day. But too soon the order came. VVednesday at ten o'clock Cadet Ridgeway was to take his plane accompanied by an officer and, jump! Although Dave heartily wished something would interrupt his test, VVednesday morning found him nervously sitting in the cockpit of his plane. His chute strapped on, sitting on it, Dave was waiting for the lieutenant and final instructions. The motor was idling lazily and he more than once looked nervously for the lieutenant. just then someone tapped him on the shoulder and looking around he con- fronted the business end of a ISS with a grim-faced individual holding it. Throwing a satchel in the front seat he motioned Dave into the rear one with a few gestures of his gun. Speeding up the motor he sent the plane bouncing across the field and made a nice take-off. Evidently this stranger knew how to manage a plane and more than likely the gun, too. He occasionally gave Dave fleeting glances while he sent the plane steadily up and on. Suddenly Dave began to see light. This could be no other than 'fBud Novak whose effrontery had put him out of the Flying School four years back. Noy he was a wanted criminal and the peak of his career had now been reached when he robbed the Freeport National Bank and escaped with currency and bonds worth il5l00,000. Dave put many plans aside. He could not fight it out, being unarmed. There was only one solution-jump and take the satchel with him! Hitting a small air pocket, the plane gave a lurch! Quick as a flash Dave seized the satchel and rolled over the side. He knew he must not pull the cord before he counted ten, but knowing the occupant of the plane would shoot at him and probably ruin the parachute, he waited as long as possible before he opened it. 12

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A LEGE D OF THE COAL FIELDS T H.Xl'P.EXlilD on a clear night when the moon was full. .lt was an experience which the Carter boys were to remember for the remainder of their days. Q The Carter family lived about twenty miles from town and obtained their living by hard work at farming. Farms were few and far between in that part of Pennsylvania. for it was in the anthracite coal region. The two Carter boys were twins just past their sixteenth birthday. As had been their custom for a long time. the two went to town on Friday nights in a horse-drawn wagon. taking milk, eggs, and other farm products to sell in town and returned the next day with staple provisions for the following Week. It so happened on this Saturday that after the boys had gone to town, transacted their business, and were returning, that one of them remembered having broken a pitchfork. ln spite of the lateness of the hour, the boys turned back and bought the much-needed implement. About halfway between the Carter home and the town was situated a large coal mine and a breaker where the coal was broken into pea, chestnut, egg, or lump sizes. This breaker, large and bulky, stood out against the sky. The road made a large semi-circular curve around this breaker and entered a wooded stretch a few hundred feet beyond. Wlhen the Carter boys were rounding the carve in the road, they saw a good distance away, beside the breaker, a heavy wagon tofwhich were hitched four powerful Percheron horses. Although it was nc-ar the often-feared hour of midnight, the two boys could see everything around :hem clearly, so bright and large and clear was the moon. This wagon belonged to the owner of the coal mine and was used to haul heavy articles used in and about the mine. Vllhat seemed even stranger than seeing the horses and wagon out at that time of the night was the sight of old jock Macljougal, the driver of the team and wagon. Jock was leaning against the back wheel of the wagon smoking his old corncob pipe. The boys knew jock well and, although they rounded the bend in the road with an unexpected and strange burst of speed from the horse, they called out a Hiya, lock! Their horse broke around the curve, shot onto the straight stretch of road, and went Hying through the Woods at an ever-increasing and uncontrollable speed. At the other end of the woods the horse was Finally, after much pulling on the reins, brought to a stop. XYhat ails her, anyway? this breathlessly from one of the boys. She never broke like that before. l don't know of anything that would make her bolt like that unless it was seein' lock out there. ,Xnd say! Seein' jock struck me as mighty strange, too. I turned around and looked back just as we were llyinl into the timber. Maybe l didn't see straight. but the team, wagon, and ,lock had disappeared! I reckon it's all pretty strange. answered his brother. .Xfter tightening the harness. which had been shaken loose in the horses' wild tiight. they started on their way again. Both agreed that seeing old Jock Macllougal leaning on the wagon by the coal breaker at that time of night was queer. Their discussion was cut short on their arrival at the farmhouse. No more of glock was said and the boys, not even mentioning the incident to their parents, went straight to bed. The next morning both of them had either forgotten the event of the night before or had thought it not important. They were soon to recall it and to remember it as long as they lived. 11 i

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Suddenly he realized that he was making his dreaded jump. Even though he was doing it with greater peril than he had anticipated, he enjoyed it. Seeing the ground rush up at startling speed, he pulled the ripcord and was caught up with a mighty jerk that nearly threw the satchel from his grasp. Collecting himself he looked up and spied the plane far above, faintly sending puffs of smoke in his direction. He knew. however, that he was too far for much accuracy or: the part of Novak. Floating down a few minutes he landed in a field a few miles from the airport. Lieutenants and cadets now drove up hurriedly. They had witnessed the jump and gave a big cheer. Dave quickly related the cause ol his unexpected ride and they hastened back to the airport to call the police. Dave was the sole topic of discussion the next day. He had not only recov- ered the bonds but had made a longer parachute jump between plane and opening than anyone in the history of Universal Flying Field. Also Novak was captured when he fell, out of gas, in a neighboring state. Dave received the reward of one thousand dollars for the arrest of Novak. But best of all Dave Ridgeway had lost his jinx! -IoHN MACMINN H.-,,.O,.l This year has passed- I should be glad. This year has passed, But I am sad. This year has passed- How sad my lot This year has passed, But I have not. .Mn .Fri ha. v 1 : X 2 Tr v 6, ,i 1' 1 . dz . v 'Y ' 7' 4 Q ' 5 D P' Q 4 A,,!.,A T 1 13