New-York tribune., 1909-09-26
WARNED BY THE DEAD?
LEFEBVRE rs QUOTED.
SAID to Haze Cautioned AUiatOr Be
forehand against Using
Poor Motor.
IBy French Gable 20 Th- Tribune /

IBy French Gable 20 The Tribune
Paris Sept 25--A widespread sensation. not
limited TO spirltualistic circles has been caused
by the extraordinary story told TO tho Paris
"Matin" by w. T. Stead the well known Lon
don journalist. in which he reports conversa-
tion he held on September is with the spirit
OF the French aviator. Lefebvre. who was killed
recently in an aeroplane accident The practi-
cal outcome of the spirits communication was
20 prevent the Russian aviator, NJ. BDlotOff. 90
whom Mr. Stead conveyed Lefebvre's warning.
from making an aeroplane ascent at Chalons
with motor which. according TO the spirit
would fail TO work at the critical moment
The relatives of Lefebgre. through the mouth
piece Of Lefebvre's former employer. the en-
s.neer Lambert, are protesting against the pub
IicatIon of Mr.. Stead's article unfair to the
memory OF the late aviator and 1.-The outrage BY
tactless Englishman upon the feelings OF
mourners."
Altogether the elements OF a very pretty
quarrel have been created BY Mr.. Stead's amaz-
ing laIe. which is being discussed with equal
passion by aviators. spiritualists and critics OF
manners.
Mr. Stead, II must be explained. founded some
months ago at TOrbray House. In the Strand.
London. a kind OF spiritualistic exchange pre-
sided over by a spirit named Julia who Is as
eager as is Mr.. Stead himself 20 bring living
persons Ito co fnuE1CaJlOu Will tncII ucpdAICN
friends and relatives and build bridge across
the borderIand between this world and the next
Ths members OF this spirit exchange meet
every morning at 10 O'Clock. with Julia" in the
chair but che Is visible only to the mediums
present.
Mr. stead relates that on September Is last
he had been asked by the Princess Wlassenily
to accompany her on a tour to Melon lie Grand
near ChalOns. to witness the experiments which
her con going 20 make with an aeroplane
on the following Monday. On September TO-
after receiving two brief communications from
Julia" the clairvoyant employed at the eX-
chanAs said he heard another voice speaking.
Mr. Stead inquired who 1t was. and the answer
came:
II have been dead for some time. My name
Is Lefebvre.''
Mr Stead, who had been abroad at the time
Of the fatal accident to Lerebvre. did not recog-
nize the name. which was equally unknown TO all
1 e other members OF the circle.
MIR Stead then inquired OF the spirit
whether it knew Bolotor's aerOplane
Yes" was the reply. land tell the young man
not 10 be too rash I do not think there will be
an accident but the motor should be carefully
tested Do not go up yourself / shall be at
Chalons with you. for 1 write on the subject
through your interceding spirit"
In reply to Mr Stead's questions he said he
did not know Bolotofr. but had met him and
gave his former profession as a mechsnician.
On the following day Lefebvres spirit. with the
assistance of Julia" described to Mr.. Stead
the accident which had proved fatal 70 him.
He experienced. he said. sense OF falling. but
lost consciousness before reaching the ground
He felt pain physical discomfort. but IL
seemed 70 him that his spirit was projected
outward. He had the sensation Of rapid rOta-
tion, then something seemed to yield. and no
found himself In the air looking down upon his
own corpse and the smashed aeroplane lying on
the ground below. 1t was not disagreeable. He
aware of the presence OF very powerful
being who calmed him and who desired TO write
by Stead's hand.
Mr.. Stead teIephoned the spirits warning TO
BOlOtorr, who promised to be cautious. The
motor which BOlotO1 was using we'll tried.
IL was four cylinder Panhard. which seemed
incapable OF breaking down. he thought. But
when he mounted In the machine the motor
absolutely refused to work. The starting crank
broke and the experiments had to be aban-
doned.
THE Matin" to-day publishes a telegram from
NJ. COlliex. at ChaIOns. who was BOlOtOr's as
sistant during the above mentioned experiments
and he declares that not only did the crank re-
fuse 20 work. but the magnetic suddenly re-
turned TO its position OF maximum advance, with
the result that he narrowly escaped serious in
Jury TO his arm. He tested the apparatus and
discovered that II could not have done this by
itself. Lefebvre's family question the truth OF
Stead's story. on the ground that spirit would
certainly have sent the messages TO the rela-
tives rather than TO BOlOtOr, whom he had
hardly known; that in life Lefebvre was not
mere mechanlcian, but a qualified engineer;
that he could not have said he spoke very little
English. for he spoke none at ALL and further
more, Lefebvre being incapable of fear could
not have lost consciousness at the beginning Of
his fall.
To this excited controversy the Partisan pub
Ii is listening with open mouthed bewiIderTnent
and great amusement. CIB