Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-05
De LA GRANGE
KILLED WHILE
MAKING FLIGHT
FAMOUS FRENCH AER0NAUT
MEETS INSTANT DEATH
FATAL ACCIDENT TAKES PLACE
AT BORDEAUX
Dead Man Ranked as One of Leading
Aviators of World, and Had Broken
All Speed Records at JuVisy
December 80
IAssociated Press1

BORDEAUX, Jan. 4.-Leon de la
Grange, the noted French aeronaut,
was killed while making a flight here
today.
De la Grange fell with his machine
from a height of about siXty-five feet
and was crushed under the wreckage.
He had been flying in a wind that was
gusty and frequently blew at the rate
of twenty miles an hour. In spite of
this disadvantage De la Grange con-
tinued and had circulated the aero
drome three times when suddenly, as
he was turning at high speed against
the wind, the left wing of the mono
plane broke and the other wing col
lapsed.
The machine toppled over and
plunged to the ground. Death was
instantaneous.
Stood in First Rank
Leon de la Grange ranked among the
first of the aviators of the world. De-
cember 80 last, at Juvisy, he broke all
speed records. The occasion was an
attempt to win the Michelin cup. He
did not succeed in beating Henry Far
mans record for distance, but did es-
tablish a new distance record for mon
oplanes and a new worlds speed record.
he covered LA iiillCS III iNO AiCbASS "3
minutes, maintaining an average speed
of approximately forty-nine miles an
hour.
De la Grange had been a well known
automobilist and was one of the first
men in Europe to take up aviation.
His feats soon attracted wide atten-
ton and he is said to have been Of
fered a guarantee of $4,000 II he would
visit the United States.
First Flight in 1907
His first public flight was made in
March, 1907, at Bagatelle, France, when
he ascended in biplane. The machine
moved thirty feet in the air and de-
scended. Some days later De la Grange
made a flight of 453 feet carrying
passenger.
He continued experiments with BIZ
plane and, visiting Rome in 1903, made
flight in the presence of royalty.
Soon afterward, at Turin, he took
woman passenger on a brief trip. In
September, 1908, the Frenchman beat
the then existing time record by travel
ing Is 2-5 miles in 19 minutes SO Sec
onds. In May, 1909, at Juvisy, he won
the La Fa.inere prize, making 3 clio
miles in 10 minutes and is seconds.
He entered the competitions at
Rheims in August last appearing for
the first time in a monoplane. He
captured the tenth prize for speed and
the 9Th prize for distance. In Sep
tember last he visited Denmark and
m. lie a flight of fifteen minutes dura-
ton before King Frederick.
Flew Fifty Miles an Hour
De la Oranges first really sensa-
tional fight and the one which made
him a contender for all prizes was
accomplished at Doncaster on October
26, 1903. At that time he flew six miles
in seven minutes, thirty-six seconds, or
at a rate at times of more than fifty
miles an hour.
De la Grange exhibited great daring
and at times did not hesitate to assume
grave risks rather than disappoint
crowdsswhich had gathered to see him.
November 5, 1907, he fell with his
aeroplane while giving an exhibition
at Issy. The machine was smashed,
but the aviator escaped with a few
cuts and bruises.
1t was also at Issy that De la
Grange narrowly escaped crushing
crowd of spectators who had taken
possession of one end of the field dur
ing his exhibition This accident hap
pened in May, 1908. De la Grange was
travelling at high speed close to the
ward the crowd. The aviator prompt
ly shut off the power and in descending
collided with an automobile.
Was Injured at Rheims
During aviation week at Rheims, the
propeller of his machine broke from
it's shaft and the aeroplane fell. De
la Grange was badly bruised.
In July last De la Grange was deco
rated with the Order of the Legion OF
Honor and, last month, the Academy
of Science at Paris voted him medal
for aeronautic achievements. In 1907
De la Grange was elected president
of the = yiation club of France. The
na~- of De la Grange is the fourth to
be added to the roll of those killed in
a motor power aeroplane, all within
fifteen months.
STUDEBAKERS'GoLDEN WEDDING