Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-18
.P[UNGES TO DEATH
Ralph tombstone, Daring Avia-
tor, Killed at Denver.
BRACE OF PLANE BREAKS
Birdman Fights Desperately, 500
Feet Above the Earth.
TURNS OVER IN THE AIR
With Nearly Every Bone in His
Body Broken, Death Of Aviator Is
Almost instantaneous.

DENVER, November 1s.-Ralph john
stone. holder Of the worlds altitude rec
ord, fell 800 feet at Overland Park yes
terday and was almost instantly killed.
Nothing on earth can save me when
the time comes to co. he had said. II
expect to die without moments notice,
but I'm going to die with records
worth anything hanging to my belt"
His prophecy was at least partially
fulfilled.
Fought Desperately for Life.
When 800 feet from the ground a spur
bracing the left lower plane gave way as
the aviator was descending in his famous
spiral dips. With his planes tilted to
almost 90 degrees he did not give up
hope. Frantically he tried to right the
aeroplane by warping the right wing tips,
while those Of the left folded up. Thrown
from his seat. he vainly tried to work
the tips back into place so that they
would take the air. The machine turned
over and plunged to the earth. john
broken. was buried in the wreckage.
Wednesday tombstone had broken his
left wing tip. Yesterday, when he made
a short fight, one of the wheels on which
the aeroplane runs over the ground broke
garded these small mishaps as bad omens
1t was not apparent, and he appeared
eager to get away.
Flew to the Foothills.
After few circuits OF the course to
gain height, tombstone headed toward
the foothills among which stands
Fort Logan. Then, still ascending, he
returned to an air point over the course
In big circle. Then he began his
spiral glide. The planes were sharply
tilted and the acroplane seemed to turn
In its own length
Suddenly those who were not watching
1 Hoxsey, who, who was still in the air. saw
that something was wrong. The left
tips OF the lower and upper planes folded
back as a brace on the left end of the
lower plane gave way. tombstone could
be seen warping the other set of wing
tips. This proved Intellectual, and then
the spectators saw the aeroplane dart
toward the earth from its height OF 600
feet.
AS the nose of the plane darted down.
ward tombstone was flung from his seat
He struck one of the wires between the
planes and chung for a moment, then.
stretching out both arms. he grasped q
brace of the upper plane. With frantic
strength he tried to draw out the canvas
SO that 1t would catch the air ana ease
the descent.
Aeroplane Turned Over.
'He's winning!' shouted q man as the
leather helmet Of the aviator fell swiftly
to earth and the abrupt dropping Of the
aeroplane seemed to be checked for q
moment. The aeroplane hung now about
800 feet from the ground.
Then either the aviators strength failed
or an air current overcame the tiny re-
sistance of the fluttering canvas, and
while a cry of horror went up the aero.
plane turned completely over and, with
the aviator reaching madly about in the
mass of wires and braces. dropped like q
stone to earth.
The spectators who had darted aside
from the spot upon which tombstone was
descending swarmed about the wreck.
tombstone was underneath, while the en-
CINE was wrapped in the plane surfaces
that had given way.
Fought for Souvenirs.
A big splinter from one of the braces
had gone through Johnstone's body. A
man in the crowd drew 1t out and, be-
fore police or surgeons could get to the
scene, he was running away with his
souvenir" the aviator's blood still drip
ping from the end. Other men and
women. too, dragged the canvas planes
away from the body and fought over
Junnstone's gloves.
The wreck was on the side Of the
field opposite the grand stand and police
were rushed across
AS they came a shadow fell on john
stone and his smashed aeroplane. Arch
| Hoxsey, his old rival, passed directly
| above and came to earth short dis
| lance away.
All in the Game.
Poor Ralph said Hoxsey. But it's
| all in the game. A weak plane. sud-
den gust of wind and then" He
! shrugged his shoulders.
| Physicians said that Johnstone's death
I must have been almost instantaneous,