The San Francisco call., 1910-01-05
FRENCH AVIATOR
PLUNGES TO DEATH
Leon de la Grange, Who Won
Fame for Aerial Feats, Killed
When Machine Falls

BORDEAUX, Jan. 4.-Leon de Ia
Grange. French aviator. whose achieve
ments in the last two years had wor
for him a high place among those who
have set out to conquer the air. was
instantly killed today when making a
flight in the presence of a great crowd
A strong. uncertain wind prevailed. but
with Characteristic daring De la
Grange faced it in the same monoplane
in which he made record of fifty
three miles an hour at the DoncasteT
meeting last October. He circIed the
aerodrome. seeming to have his ma
chine under good control, and yet at
times il heeled dangerously.
On the third round, when at height
OF between sixty and seventy feet, he
Increased mis- speed. He swung wide
Al the turns. but at the lower end OF
the aerodrom he attempted to describe
a sharp curve. The machine was seen
to sway. The left wing was broken
and the right wing Immediately col
lapsed. The aeroplane came plunging
10 the earth and il turned half over
as II fell, with the aviator clinging TO
the seat In this way il crashed to the
ground with De Ia Grange beneath,
the heavy motor crushing him.
The mechanicians are at loss TO
explain the accident They are merely
able to say that it resulted from ma
neuvering too quickly in the puffy
wind. The monoplane was double
braced at essential points and had been
given careful examination before as
Ccnding
FIRST OF AVIATORS
De la Grange ranked among the first
OF the aviators Of the world. Decem-
ber 80 last, at Juvisy. he broke all
speed records. The occasion was an
attempt to win the NicheIin cup. He
did not succeed in beating Henry Far
mans record for distance, but did es-
tablish q new distance record for
monoplanes and a new worlds speed
record He covered 124 miles in two
hours and thirty-two minutes, main
tanning an average speed of approx
mately - miles an hour
De Ia 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 hove been Of
fered a guarantee Of $4,000 if he would
visit the United States.
In October last De Ia Grange made
= fight at Doncaster, England, estab-
fishing a speed record Of one mile and
SEQ Yards in one minute and forty
seven and one-fifth seconds. His first
public fight was made March Is, 1907,
AT Bagatelle. France, when he as
cended in q biplane-
De d Oranges first really sensation
Al fight and the one which made him
a contender for all prizes was accom-
plished at Doncaster, October 26. 1909.
At that time he few six miles in seven
minutes and thirty-six seconds, or at
rate at times OF more than fifty
miles an hour.
EXHIBITED GREAT DARING
De Ia Grange exhibited great daring
and at times did not hesitate to assume
grave risks rather than disappoint
crowds which had gathered to see him.
November 3. 1907, he fell with his
aeropIane while giving an exhibition
at Issy. The machine was smashed,
but the aviator escaped with few
cuts and bruises.
During the aviation week at Rheims
the propeller OF De Ia Oranges ma
chine broke from its shaft and the
aeroplane fell De Ia Grange was bad
ly bruised.
In July last De Ia Grange was dec
grated with the Order Of the Legion
Of Honor. and last month the Academy
Of Sciences at Paris voted him q medal
for aeronautic achievements In 1907
de- Ia Grange was elected president
Of the Aviation club Of France.
The name 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