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This is an interview with Mr. R. H. Heath, living at 423 Quitman
in Pittsburg, Texas . The date is September 2, 1967; time, 4:00 p.m.
John Fox: Mr. Heath, you say you actually saw the flight?
Mr . Heath : Yes.
Fox: liould you describe what you say?
Heath: Well, it was on a slight hill southwest of Pittsburg, within the city
J limits. The plane did take off, ffi believe it was with the assistance
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of men , and I would say it got about 10 or 12 feet high off the ground
and, in my judgment, flew off around about 50 or 60 f eet .
Did it hop or appear to be one flight?
As far as I remember, it appeared to be just one flight.
lias it running on the ground or was it a vertical take-<>ff?
As I remember, they started pushing it and it took off from the ground.
From a standing start?
Yes, from a standing start. They started pushing it down this incline---
they may have pushed it 10 feet. Just like you push a car.
Who was following the plane?
The man who built it-I can't think of his name.
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Would that be ~rl · Stamps?
No, Stamps worked in the foundry, but he didn't build the plane.
Are you talking about Brother Cannon?
Yes, that was his name. He was the man who built it and was the pilot-as
far as I can remember. I do remember Burl Stamps being there----
I think he may be alive in Gilmer, Texas- --I'm not sure. He was the last
time I heard of him.
And he helped build it?
Mr. Stamps was working at the foundry but he helped Mr. Cannon with the
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mechanical part.
Fox: What part did ROWliLockett play in it?
Heath: Row Lockett was working there, too, in the foundry---not in the machine
shop. He poured hot iron and made different things for it. But I don't
remember Row Lockett working in the machine shop.
Fox: Besides Burl Stamps and Brother Cannon, can you remember anyone else who
might have worked on the ship? Would Mr. Thorsell have done it?
Heath: Well, he was capable but I don't know if he did. Of course, he owned
the place. There was an electrician who worked there at that time.
Now, he may have helped 'em some. His name was DeWitt Shannon and he was
the only one in Pittsburg for years.
Fox: Did they take down the wall to get the ship out?
Heath: Yes, they had built it upstairs in the supply room and had to take down
the wall and let it down on a runway to get it to the ground.
Fox: Did they build a ramp to the upstairs? Which wall was it?
Yes, a ramp---and I think it was the north wall.
Fox: Could you describe the plane?
Heath: No, I don't think I could but it was made out of canvas.
Fox: About how many people were present when it flew?
Heath: Well, I was just a boy but it looked to me like they were about 50 or
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60 people there.
Fox: Was this the only time the plane was flown?
Heath: Yes, as far as I know.
Fox: Was an announcement made about it?
Heath: I don't remember, but there was a big promotion about it and stock went
very high. I went out with my father to watch them.
Fox: When the people saw what the plane did, was an encouragement or did they
not think as highly of it?
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I don't remember, but people would talk about it and mw father had
about $500 worth of it.
Do you know anyone else who invested?
His brother, Judge W. R. Heath (passed away, like mw father) but I
don't know NOW much he invested. MY aunt in Shreveport invested, and
so did Sam Lockett. Jeff Reynolds had stock, F. C. Harvey had stock
and Mrs. J. Holtz had stock.
Do you remember who had the most?
No, I don't know.
Did Brother Cannon have stock?
I presume he did---but he might have sold it.
Do you remember them loading it on a train?
Yes, on a flat car. Going to st. Louis.
And it was destroyed on the way?
I don't know whatever became of it.
Brother Cannon never came back to town?
Not as far as I know.
Did the people like him or did they feel that he'd cheated them?
I don't think so. I think everyone thought that a plane would be
built .
And you never knew anything about it after that?
No, I was just a kid. I liked machinery and would hang around the foundry.
Not many people hung around there. Later on, in later years, I worked
at the foundry in the machine shop.
Do you know anything in connection with the Wright Br others?
No, I never did hear of it . I was just a kid.
Do you know of anyone living today, besides yourself, who saw the flight?
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Heath:
Fox:
There's not too many of us around here any more. Row Lockett and
Aubrey Swaim----but not many of us old folks were old enough to
remmmber---old people are about gone. I don't remember anyone
else.
I guess that about covers it. I sure appreciate your time.