Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-11-21
AyIATORS THRILL
ovERLANDl !

Archey Hoxsey in Wright and Bu(
Mars in Curtiss machine are toda,
giving spectators thrillers which tot
often bring to mind the fatal acct
dent of couple OF days before Mile
a minute speed and dips and glider
that make one wish the aviators would
not be so seemingly reckless are now
being witnessed by large crowd al
Overland
One of the most unpleasant memo
ries of the meet is the action of the
crowd which rushed to the wreck ed
machine OF Johnstone's Thursday anC
i'll their mad effort for souvenirs O,
the fatal plunge. frantically tore away
the canvass over his body, and fought
for the very gloves that had protect
ed his hands from the cold
The machine fel on the opposite side
OF the field from the grandstand and
there were but a few hundred neal
the spot. but physicians and police
we're rushed across as soon as pos 81
Bile. Physicians declare death must
have been instantaneous as Johnstone's
back, neck and both legs were brok
en, the bones of his thighs being
forced through the flesh and the leath
er garments he wore
Arch Hoxsey, who in previous
flight Thursday afternoon had reached
an altitude of $500 feet, had risen Just
before tombstone began his fatal
glide and was in the air when the
accident took place. AS he swung
around to the other end of the cours Sc
he saw that tombstone had fallen and
guided his machine directly over the
body of his friend. He descended as
soon as he could bring his plane TO the
ground and rushed to the wrecka &c
where he and Walter Brookins helped
to lift the mangled body into an auto
mobile which brought it to the city.
Many of the spectators we're watch
ing Hoxsey's flight and did not see
Iohnstone's machine collapse. but a
womans shrek. MY God, he's gone"
drew every eye in time to see the
doomed man dashed to death upon the
ground The band in tie grands tand
blared away under contract never
ceased to play. and Johnstone's body
was driven out of the enclosure with
the strains of "A Grizzly Bear, for a
funeral march.
1t would seem that many incidents
had
tion meet here to warn the Inflated
aviator. The day before in alighting
tombstone broke the left wing tip OF
his machine against the fence. 1t was
caused his death.
When he started on his first flight
one of the wheels on which the aero
plane runs along the ground gave way
pared to start for his last flight, fox
terrier that had broken through the
fence stationed himself directly in
front Of the machine and barking fran.
the machine rolled down the track one
OF the wings swept above the dog
which pursued the machine until Ii
lifted into the air.
atmosphere before the fatal day with
a representative OF the Associated
Press. tombstone declared he would at.
tempt mo stunts" here as he consid-
arad IL tno donuorour Ex-;dantlx,
however, he believed he had solved the
problems OF this altitude when he de-
parted from this determination. Hox.
sey's daring flight far over the foot
a determination to Guido his teammate
for the first spiral which he made
safely was by far the most daring
any of the aviators have attempted
al this meet
KANSAS CITY. Nov. 19.-When
Ralph tombstone started to leave the
home of w NJ. Federmann. his uncle
here last Sunday on his way to the
scene. of the aviation meet in Den
yer. Federmann said: II suppose I'll
receive a telegram one of these days
to come after your remains"
Not NINE" said tombstone, when
I make flight I have my plans
well laid. Before leave the ground,
| know exactly what | am going to
do. Don't worry about me being in.
jured."
The dead aviator was born here
30 years ago. His parents are dead
An invalid sister. Miss May tombstone
lives in Moberly, Mo. Johnstone's
wife and two children, boy and a
girl are in New York
tombstone was a trick cyclist before
he became an aviator. Fifteen years
ago he used to entertain crowds In the
streets by giving performances on q
dilapidated cushion-tireI bicycle. For
tune smiled on him and he became
the possessOr of real bicycle with
pneumatic tires. A few days later un
announced he rode away, and wher
next he came home he was In the EN-