| Show T She had a premonition of death before she sky dived — o' premonition that By CAROL NELSON as told to Don Dwiggins "Okay" I mid “TO the panic that was flooding back This was no longer my reserve parachute It was all that could save me from death In a moment I was falling free my lift in my own hands again 1 jerked the rip cord as hard as I could I was well below 1000 feet plunging down in a free fall Seconds slipped by and' still the canopy didn’t open! ' I knew what was wrong I wait fall- Ing upside down The wind was holding the chute against my chest I moved my arms and rolled over then dug my fingers deep into the pack and dragged out the silk throwing it to the wind There was yank The blossomed was I floating parachute gently earthward los to hide be right down!" I kissed my parents and then ran to "chute up" I felt uneasy but I didn't want to delay the take-o- ff Soon I was sitting on the floor of a monoplane beside the open doorway so I could be first out Carlos sat directly behind me where he could sig- nal when it was time to go When we circled to 2fi00 feet our minimum safe-jualtitude I spotted the drop zone —we call it the DZ It was a giant circle on the pandy earth ringed with mountains 1 saw dots that were people Carlos suddenly tapped my amt ' "Move out!" 1 had no fear now I swung out onto the wheel held my head high in the wind and shut my eyes I heard Carlos’ voice ciy: “Go!" I shoved away from the strut and flung my arms out and felt the exhilarating excitement of plunging into space It was a perfect exit ' Then came a bruising shock as my static line tightened instead of automatically opening my chute pack I knew something was wrong I looked up I was dangling from the belly of the ship I reached up with my left hand and grabbed the static line a motion that threw me into a sickening spin oadl- la ting me dangerously dose to the propeller I thrust my right arm out again and managed to become stabilized once more Now Iwas being towed through the sky like a water skier on is short rope directly behind deadly flashing propeller blades mp I960 was a lovely day for Mat 30 diving at Elsinore Calif A warm sun no wind a cloudless sky It was the second day of a three-da- y competition of sport parachutists from Southern California and I was happily excited— I was going to make my third jumpb Fast ' RM scratching: AND "ITCHING DOGS FAST EFFECTIVE 1 RELIEF from summer seisms ' ' 9 summer Itch "iot pots" scaly eczemas Kills flees lies end ticks ring! spplicatioD gives up to 8 weeks protection Easy-to-ujust mix With water sad sponge on Protect your pet and home ask for the Pul vex way own-ers- an ae " Pulvsx rtttarch-prow- products at aD I wanted it to be perfect—Mother and Dad had come to watch at the little airport on the edge of the dry lakebed we used for a drop zone They had expressed normal concern for my safety and I wanted to show' them that sky diving America's newest most exciting sport was no more dangerous than driving on the freeway — actually less dangerous From nowhere a chill wind kftttbed my cheek and I had a sudden premoni- turn that death would be waiting at the i drop zone that day I shook off the feeling which could have been due to my anxiety about things going so smoothly “Come op" I' told Mother and Dad want-tshow you around" I took them to' a hangar and showed them the rigger’s table Lovely mange and white canopies were being carefully folded and packed by their art every good sky diver learns "If you pack your own chute" I ex' plained "you know there will be no malfunction" "Yes Carol" Mother said fully "but what if something does go wrong with your parachute?" “That’s why we wear a second canI said opy" ' Someone tapped my shoulder It was Carlos an experienced parachutist who was to be my jump master "You’re up next Carol" he said ti leading pet departments For FREE copy of Dog Owner’s Guide Book write Puhrsx 1909 N Clifton Dept FW--6 Chicago 14 ' p Inxr momxxtast as I could Aiiic ' - uTm I was on the ground Auoiriarr over backwards in a per- maneuver I sat fect parachute-landin-g there feeling the earth letting sand run ' between my fingers A jeep raced up and skidded to a stop "Are you okay?" the driver yelled I nodded and then saw Mother sitting betide him I could tell she was fight- ing back tears When I climbed in she hugged me then said sternly: "Carol your father and I want you to go right up and jump again!" I knew it took plenty of courage " for her to say that and now that the excitement was over I felt tears of relief myself Later that day as the three of us sat at the “airport hamburger stand I looked up watching the monoplane circle lazily to jump altitude Again I felt ‘ that awful chilL A tiny figure plunged out I knew who it was— Mrs Vanda Pfieffer a pretty redheaded mother whose husband and children were standing near the DZ proudly watching My throat tightened and I couldn’t swallow Vanda seemed to fall faster and faster: and still her chute didn’t ' open As she fell past 1£00 feet then hOOO feet I knew she was going to die No one knosrs what really happened Same soy she suffered a fainting spelL The tragedy of that dity did not keep ' me on the ground 1 did go back and jump again as Mother wanted me to 4a I’ve made many free falls since and ' you can be sure I check my equipment personally each time ' I know now that my premonition had been right that day Death was waiting at the drop zone— but not for me - ’ and screamed but the rushing wind drowned my voice Carlos crawled out on the wheel slapping his reserve canopy and shaking his head His face was chalky I noddedlhe panic was gone He was warning me not to pull the emergency rip cord It could stall tiie plane and cause it to crash It could ' crush me For a moment Carlos struggled to haul me back in but it was impossible I looked at the ground and saw that we were losing altitude fast Something had to be done quickly Carlos was waving at me again He held a knife in his hand and made a cutting motion against the static line He was going to cut me free I patted my reserve chute and grinned at Car- - - ’ IX Family WMfclyjMMlS'lSCl ' £ I |
