New-York tribune., 1908-09-03
AERON.4UTS FATAL FALL
Airshp Collapsed at Name Far and
G. O. Jones Vas Killed.

Waterville Me- Sept. 2.-Charles o. Jones. Of
Hammondsport, N Y, operator of an afrship at
the Central Maine Fair Grounds, fell distance
of five hundred feet late to-day and died to-
night from his injuries.
Jones fell in full view Of $4,000 spectators.
Among the witnesses of the frightful plunge
were his wife and child, and they were almost
the first to reach the side of the dying man.
When the aeronaut had reached height Of
more than five hundred feet the spectators were
amazed to see small tongues of flame issuing
from under the gas bag in front of the motor
Many persons in the great crowd endeavored to
apprise Jones of his danger but several minutes
elapsed before he noticed the fire Then he
grasped the rip cord and, by letting out gas,
endeavored to reach the earth. The machine
had descended only a short distance when
sudden burst of flame enveoped the gas bag, the
framework Immediately separating from the bag
and Jones falling with it.
Jones had trouble with his balloon yesterday
on account of cold weather Monday night which
caused a number of leaks through the contrac-
ton of the gas bag. 1t is thought that the bag
leaked again to-day, and that a spark from
the motor caused the disaster.
Hammondsport, n. Y. Sept 2.-Charles Oliver
Jones was numbered among the younger aeronauts
but his work in the field marked him as one of the
most successful exponents of aerial navigation
He came here year ago from his home in Gin
cinnat. with some entirely ideas in regard to
airships, and Joined Alexander Graham Bell and
others in their experiments with aeroplanes
Jones evolved the June Bug which made several
record flights for short distances The June Bug
won The Scientific American trophy offered for
heavierthan-air machines attaining speed of about
thirty miles an hour against the wind There were
seven scientists interested in the experiments on
Lake heuka. Each had different idea as to the
solution of the problem of aerial flight but they
collaborated the work of building airshfps along
the lines designed by each individual The June
Bug the sixth machine turned out. and was
generally conceded to be the best.
1t had been Jones's intention to go to the ex-
pertinent station in Nova Scotia with Lieutenant
Selfridge. of the United States signal corps, to
work aeroplane.
While showing his machine near this city C. O.
Jones had ill-luck and lost money and endangered
his life many times He went up at the Palisades
Amusement Park near Fort Lee, and his flights
witnessed by thousands In Harlem and
Washington Heights. Bad weather and strong
winds delayed his initial flight for some days but
on Sunday, July 49, he decided. owing to the big
crowd waiting to see him fly, TO make try. He
went up suddenly and before his motor work
ing, owing to rope parting, he failed to fly
and was carried across the river over Manhattan
and The Bronx to Long Island Then he drifted
back The Bronx side of the sound and landed
near Throg's Neck.
Again he carried to the Englewood golf
links and on a third ascension he landed close TO
the Hackensack River, near East Hackensack On
his last trip here Jones narrowly escaped death
on the high tension wires of the Hudson River
Trolley Company. Each time Jones made flight
he failed to return to tho starting point, and as
money It cost him $1,000 every time the bag was
filled.