New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-04
GLIDER FALLS 40 FEET
L. T. LESH BREAKS ANKLE.
accident Seen By Thousands at
Morris Park RdCetrdck.

Laurence Jerome Iesh sixteen years old, pupil
of Octave Chanute and the only aeronaut 10 get on
the ground in q heavier air device at the eN
hibition and tournament OF the Aeronauuc ooclely
at the Morris Park Racerack yesterday, fell from
a height of forty feet while making his th1rd ghue'
breaking two bones of his right ankle Inc accI-
dent was witnessed by immense crowd Narl-
ously estimated at from twelve thousand TO eleh-
teen thousand persons. short time pelore rieu
Young an eighty old boy, was struck Dy
motorcycle and badly lacerated
Iesh was taken to the Fordham Hospital in an
ambulance He said last night that. although ne
would be compelled to remain there two months at
least he would not to study aeronautics ana
would continue to take practical part In the de-
veiopment of the art of gliding soon as the pny
sicians released him.
Twice Iesh had giided through the air. towed by
a automobile and descended to earth without df
fcuItv The crowd which had been drawn to the
racetrack by curiosity some demonstrations
of aerial skill had been plainly Interested as up
to the time that Lesh entered the field WIN MS
''self-rnade" glider there had been nothing IN the
upper atmosphere except kites. which advertised
various vouched for commodities OF bathroom util-
ity During his third exhibition something made
the gliding machine turn quickly to one side ana
dip Lesh, to protect himself. stretched out his
right leg but fell 10 the ground heavily
He had been advertised the champion glider
Of the world from Montreal with a record of hav-
ing glided six miles the ST Lawrence RiVHr'
toved by fast motor boat at the rate OF twenty
five miles an hour. A few days ago he salo ne
would try TO obtain permission to be pushed or the
Flat!ron Building in his kite, and land In Manson
Square.
The only successful flight was that of John MACK
of Bridgeport, who assembled late in the afternoon
in an >oId fashioned hot-afr balloon. The rest OF
the airships were on exhibition, but no attempt
was made to cajole them from their positions on
the lawn.
C. ". Williams showed the only aeroplane that
was ready for the aeronautical show. 1t was too
heavy for it's motor Experts said that with a
more powerful motor installed the Williams aero
plane would do good work.
There were gliders and models on exhibition and
Mr. KimbalTs helcopter pushed In front OF
the grandstand where It much admired
The opinion frequently expressed yesterday was
that the afternoon had been prontably spent oy
the thousands of persons showed by their pres
ence their keen desire to keep up to date in aero
nartIc achievements although 1t was impossible to
show them any aerial craft in successful operation
It was the first attempt which has ever been made
in this country perhaps in the world. to gather
together the concrete ideas of many inventors IN
the field of aeronautics-
II was said at the box Office that large majority
of those present had wandered into the GROUNDS
through reckoning gaps In the fences. and had no
doubt enjoyed the show no less from having paid
no entrance fee About four thousand persons, it
was said, paid their
A. ]. Henry OF the weather bureau, at WASH
ington sent UP kites to take temperatures ana
wind directions.
The motor cycle portion of the programme fur
nished many exciting finishes and the crowd re-
manned until after dark A small fire which
threatened one of the sheds at 6 O'Clock, was soon
extnguished.