The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-23
Peruvian Aviator Has Narrow
Escape From Death When
Near His Goal
MONOPLANE SHATTERED
IN LOFTY TUMBLE
Chavez's Unable to Control Ma
chine With Benumbed Hands.
Crowd Expected He Would
Be Dashed to Pieces.

MILAN, September 23.--After a
successful higat over the Alps and the
crossing OF the Simplon Pass 1000
feet high. Aviator george Chavez,
q Peruvian, was dangerously injured
to-day near DnnodoSsoia, about 30
miles from Brteg, Switzerland, the
starting point Cnavcx lost control of
his monopiane through the bcnumb-
Ing OF hts hands from the extreme
cold. He WAS flying at a height of
from 5000 to 5000 feet at the time
and the machine dashed 80 earth at u
terrific speed.
Ii looked as though Chavez would
be dashed to bits and those who wit
messed the rocket-nke descent of the
uIonopiane cried out In horror.
When within goo feet OF the ground
Chavez, as though by miracle, re-
gained partial control OF the aero
plane and checked its terrific descent.
The machine struck, however. with
great force and Chavez suffered a
broken leg while his right thigh was
severely cut and bruised. He was
taken TO a hospital In Domodossola-
where 1t Is feared his injuries may
prove fatal.
Reduced to kindling.
Chayez's aeroplane WAS reduced to
spiintcr~. When he regained con-
/ StIouSsis~S AsF S<ssl lAlSlt lks was nthTt1
/ frozen by the low temperature en-
counterd In crossing the pass. He
didn't know how helpless he really
was until he attempted TO manipulate
his machine while approaching Do
moiossoF-
Chavez was in the air 40 minutes.
fanetti. a French aviator. and
Henry Weymann, the American. fol-
aH {shaNay PzSlattI AxA Sv.
making much better flight than
Chavez, reaching Stresa on Lake Mag
giore. IS miles beyond Domodossola,
in safety.
Weymann, however. was forced 10
descend at 1915 after he had been in
the air few mint .es.
Pailetti came within IS miles of
reaching Milan, the objective point of
the aytators as they were contesting
for the s2o,e70 prize offered for q
light over the Alps. from tBrfeg Go
Milan.
Paiieui and Weymann were both
favored with better weather than
Chavez encountered and the latters
daring in rising in the face of Il strong
wind was cheered by several thousand
SPECTATOR Pailesu was also in bad
shape when he reached Stresa. He
had to be lifted from his machine.
viii Resume Flight
Pailetti announced that as soon as
he had rested while. he would re-
sumo his voyage The rest OF the
route presents no unusual obsacies
The flight over the Alps by Chavez
and Pailetti is considered the most
daring achievement in the history Of
aviation. From the time they as
oended. from plateau overlooking
the Rome Valley until Domoiossola
was reached. there is scarcely a suit.
able place for landing and had any
thing gone wrong with their ma
chimes, death would probably have
been the price they would have paid
for their reckiessness
Most OF the distance was over
gorges and rough mountains which
precluded the possibility of landing
safely when once into the Alps
To-day's Was the fourth attempt
Chavez has made TO sail over the
Simpion Pass. Henry wsymann, an
American, having been competitor In
the previous attempts Chavez was
advised against starting out to-day
owing 10 the weather but 6he declared
that he had waited week for favor
able weather and though that the
conditions to-day were as propitious
as he could expect
Chavez arose from small plateau
overlooking the Rhone Valley and Inn
medisteiy began IA series of wide
spirals that soon brought him to the
level of the Pass when he disappeared
behind the granite promotory that
marks the entrance to the Saline
gorge.
Several thous and watched his start
and cheered franticaliy as long as the
machine was in sight.
The course to Milan is over Lake
Maggiore aud was marked by smoking
fires. A $4,000 prize awaits Chavez
IL he reached Milan.