The Washington herald., 1910-08-11

AsDury Park, N. j. Aug. i0-walter
A. Brookins, the youthful pupil OF the
Wrights. who. on July 9. climbed to the
record height OF s175 feet at Atlantic
City, and then coasted safely to earth.
with his power shut OF, crashed to earth
from height Of about fifty feet during
tie first hour OF the opening OF the ten
day aviation meet here this afternoon.
This is the first time since aviation
began to draw big crowds OF onlookers
that an aeroplane has tumbled down on
the SPECTATORS.
Seven persons besides Broolins were
injured. one foureen-year-old boy.
named George Burnett. Of Spring Lake.
was crushed beneath the framework Of
the lower part OF the main planes OF the
machine and had his skull fractured and
his hip broken. He was removed to the
Long Branch Hospital in an automobile
that had been parked a few feet from the
wreckase. The boy probably VIII die.
GrnspinS Steering Lever.
When Brooklns was found beneath the
tangle Of the aeroplane fabric and splin-
tered framework and wires. he lay on
the sod OF the aviation Reld, with his
right hand still grasping aSteering lever.
He was thought 10 be dead as he was
dragged out or the wreck While being
carried into the hospital, a few feet
away, however, the aviator regained
consciousness.
Tonight the doctors say that an ex-
animation showed that BroOkins has
broken nose, a severely Lscersted head
and face, and he has bruises about the
body.
Brookins says tonight that HIS fall was
due 70 efforts he was making while de-
sceadisg TO avoid a crowd OF camera
men and other spectators grouped on the
held. which was solidly packed with
spectators.
Tried to Turn Sharply.
When about fifty feet over the heads
OF the grand stand crowd the aeroplane
was seen 10 tip at what seemed 10 be
almost an angle Of forty-hve degrees as
the aviator tired TO swing his machine
in a sharp circle between the grand
stand and the knot Of men out on the
field
The machine momentariIy stood on
edge in midair and then it headed
straight downward and crumpled into
cracking heap Of wreckage.
Had the aeroplane fallen ten feet far
ther back in IT'S flight II would have un-
d9ubtedly crashed upon the grand stand
and crushed many men, women, and
children who few moments before were
cheering the aviator. One could almost
reach out and touch the wreckage from
the front row of the grand stand seats
Shrieks Of terror arose from the grand
stand onlookers. Men and women
crouched and, with upralsed hands.
seemed to try to ward of the weight
bearing toward them. Out on the sod
in front Of the stand there was wild
scramble among those whose badges per-
mitted them to be on the field. Along
the grandstand seats at z safe distance
from the machine the 1900 spectators
arose with cry Of horror.
Crashes Into Crowd.
The aeroplane fell upon a Rroup OF pro-
gramme sellers, policemen, and special
deputies and some small boys who had
been flying kites of strange design be-
fore BrOOkins took 10 the air. Their efforts
TO break for safety were only partly sue
CesSfuL The plane smashed through a
cigar case standing on the grass. the
starboard edges of the planes tearing
through the wire netting that was sun
posed TO keep the people back A big
crowd Of officials reporters. gliardsmen.
and the police turned IN to pick up the
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