“Since you are now all here,” said Major Squiers, turning to the sergeant, after a few moment’s talk with Morey, “you may as well draw lots for the order in which you are to be called. We may make a flight at any time. Some officials from Washington will arrive tomorrow or the day after. When they do, we must be ready to begin work at once.”
These flights were for the purpose of navigating, if possible, an aeroplane from the Arlington ridge, across the marshes, over Staten Island and then dropping explosives on a target in the Lower Bay, south of Staten Island. This target was a condemned man-of-war, which for several weeks had been mysteriously anchored off the shore. In order not to attract undue attention the vessel was manned. But officers and men were prepared to abandon the hulk at any time on signal.
The aeroplane shed was a canvas house on the garden plaza. By its side was a shop. The aeroplane tested at Fort Meyer was installed here with a second one on the ground in crates. This one had just arrived. The plans of the War Department were twofold. Not only were various explosives to be tested by being dropped from a swiftly flying car, but some of the actual conditions of war were to be present. It was especially desired to make the experiment cover some ground. The distance from the Arlington ridge to the Lower Bay was nearly twenty miles. It was believed that if this distance could be covered by a machine without descending and a safe return accomplished, that some of the exigencies of actual warfare would have been met.
Morey was sent to the upper floor to install himself. While he was picking out a cot he was recalled to the commander’s apartment. A drawing of lots was to take place to decide the order in which the four available operators would be called on to serve.
“First,” explained Major Squiers, “although you are all soldiers, not one of whom would shirk his duty, the department wants to make this fact plain. This work is so new and so hazardous that it is to be the policy of the Secretary of War to call for volunteers in aeroplaning. In actual warfare it is not impossible that weapons of defense will be at once devised that will make the work of an aeroplane almost a deliberate sacrifice of life. If any one of you wishes to wait until the science we are developing is more advanced and aviation of this sort is attended with less danger, do not be ashamed to say so. It will not be charged against you.”
Four men smiled.
“As I anticipated,” said Major Squiers, smiling in turn. “All of you are eager Hobsons.”
As a result of the drawing the order was:
1st. Corporal D. M. Steele, 26 years old, Omaha, Nebraska (the dirigible experimental station).