The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-11-22
Bones PrOtrude From Horribly
Mangled Body.
BIpLANE TURNS over THRICE
Aviator Leaps to Framework In
Vain Effort TO Right Himself.
Souvenir Fiends Oismantle
7 Wreck While Corpse is Being
Removed By POliCe---lIl- l-Fatgd
Man Had No Fear of Death.

Denver, Colo, Nov. 49,. While
making an exhibition flight at Over
land park, Ralph tombstone was ia.
tally injured by drop of 500 feet
in his runaway blplane. He tried
TO remove his helmet after he struck
the earth, gave few short gasps,
and expired. From the time he lost
control Of the machine until 1t struck
the earth 1t turned three complete
somersaults, and 1t is question
whether something broke or whether
the machinery was broken by the
strain of these evolutions before 1t
struck the ground.
When the crowd saw the machine
whirling downward there was scat
tering, and the space on which 1t
fell was clear of people until the
crash. Then there was a rush to the
spot where Johnstone's crushed and
bloody body lay Police were first at
his side and lifted the mntor. which
bore him down. Then the crowd was
driven back and stretcher secured
to remove the body. Forced back
ward by officers, the crowd rushed to
chine lay In tangled heap. and be-
fore the police could prevent II the
framework and everything had been
broken or torn to bits and carried
away by souvenir fiends.
Johnstone had been doing magnifl-
cent work In the air for two days,
and previous to the accident had
scared away from the park and
taken a turn over Fort Logan. sew
eral miles distant, while HoXsey and
Brookins We're maneuyoring over the
park. When the crowd saw him re-
turning at an altitude uf about 800
feet there was great cheer. AS he
gracefully dipped his machine In re-
sponse he was again cheered. and he
then began making spiral descent
TO the starting ground In the park,
and then II was noticed that his ma
chine wobblad several times. Sud
denly the aeroplane swerved, darted
toward the ground and, after turning
,three somersaults. struck the earth
with terrihc force.
Seen Clutching at LeVers.
During the descent Johnstonc could
be seen clutching the levers about
his seat, while the frightened specta
tors wondered II by some chance he
could not right his machine and save
himself from death
Physicians hurried from the narl
.und grandstand, and even they hat
90 beat their way through Che crowd
10 get to the victim. Long before
they reached the scene Jahnstont
was dead.
a man who was sitting In IN auto
mobile within 100 feet OF JohnstonC
when he hit the ground said; 81 saA
him begin to fall FIRST the nero
plane turned turtle. .Fohnstone heI
tried TO climb out on the rods. Al
he left the seat the machine turnoC
over twice more. After that II drop
ped straight to the ground, WheI
the fall started tombstone was abOu
300 feet up. He didn't utter u cry o
any kind while falling. There was
team CT horses almost directly unde
the falling aeroplane. The drive
pulled them back Till they were OF
their launches. The machine dl,
not miss them 10 feet"
mot mine" replied Johnstone
"When make a flight 1 have IN
plans well laid. Before I leave tn
ground | knew exactly what I NJ
going to do. Don't worry about IN
being injured"
Mr.. Federman wired that he woul
come TO Denver and take Johns.one'
body to Kansas City for burial
Both legs, his neck and back wer
broken, and the bones Of his thigh
were forced through the hesh an
through his leather garments, Brooi
ins and Hoxsey hurried Ia his sid
after his fall and helped to remov
the body.
Neck and Back Broken.
When Johnstone left The home
his uncle In Kansas City last .iu
day w. NJ. Federman. his uncle. snit
II suppose I'll get telegram one
these days to come after youl Z
mains"
tombstone is 30 years old. His "a