The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-12

In the presence of great company
of spectators, a majority of whom
were women and children and many
personal friends of the young aviator,
the Wright biplane on which he was
flying fell suddenly with terrific speed
from a height of 100 feet. 1t struck
the ground close to the crowded grand
stand, smashed into a tangled mass
and before the doctors and their as
sistants could reach the spot Rolls was
dead.
The event in which Rolls was COM
peting was for a prize for the aviator
alighting nearest given mark. The
goal was directly in front of the
grand stand; where the spectators
were massed- He had risen to good
height then shut off his motor and
was gliding in broad circles toward
the mark. Without warning the tail
piece of the biplane snapped off. The
machine gave a sudden lurch and the
framework crumpled up in the air.
When it struck the ground it was
smashed to splinters.
The doctors found that Rolls had
suffered a fractured skull. The wreck
of the machine and twisted stays sur
rounded the body so that there was
difficulty in extricating it. Immediate
" after the result of Rolls accident
the committee announced that flying
would be suspended for the day.
Lord and Lady Llangattock, the
parents of Rolls, did not witness the
catastrophe. They were yachting along
the coast and put in at Poole, near
Bournemouth this morning, intending
to attend the aviation meeting but
postponed going until afternoon. Au-
demars. the Swiss aviator, had a close
shave while making trial flight above
the Bournemouth field. His monoplane
overturned and descended swiftly to
the ground, but he escaped without IN
jury.
oh NJ His Career.
Captain, the Hon. Charles Stewart
Rolls. was 33 years old and was one
of the most popular young an-round
sportsmen in England. At ballooning,
at motoring and later in the field of
aviation he had distinguished himself
by his utter fearlessness.
: Undoubtedly his crowning feat was
his round trip across the channel be-
tween Dover and Calais in a Wright
bi-plane on June last. Two French
men, Louis Bleriot and Count De Les
sens already had crossed the channel
and Huburt Latham had almost sue
ceeded. Channel flying was at a dis
count in England, because il was con-
sidered an old story and also because
national pride suffered from the mon
opoly of it by Frenchmen when Rolls
electrified the entire kingdom by dou-
bling the accomplishments of his pre-
decessors.
The distance between Dover and
Calais is 81 miles and when Rolls did
the round trip of AZ miles in 80 min
utes, without stopping, his perform
ance was a marvellous one both for
distance and time. Rolls was as mod
est as he was daring and received the
CONGRATULATIONS which were showerod
on him almost with embarrassment.
In his youth Rolls was one of the
pioneers of motoring in England. He
drove a motor car while the ordinance
was still in force that every self pro-
peIled vheicle on the public roads
must be preceded by a man, carrying
a red flag to warn pedestrians.
An Expert NIOtOrist.
Since 1896 he has been one of the
best motor experts in Europe. In 190C
he won the gold medal in the thousand
mile automobile race. He was the rep
resentaIive of Great Britain in the Cor
dom Bennett race of 1905, and severa
times made worlds records for speed
AS a balloonist Rolls has made more
than $50 ascensions, crossed the charne
several times in balloons and in 1906
Ly a journey from Paris to Sherbourns
and Norfolk, gained the French Aero
clubs medal for the longest balloon
journey.
y, Rolls was the third son of Lore
Jlangattock and was intended for tn,
diplomatic service, but he showed sucl
enthusiasm for science and mechanic
that his parents decided it was bette
to let him become good scientis
than a. poor diplomat. He was educate,
at Elton and Cambridge, where he spec
ialized in engineering and electricity
He was captain of the Cambridge uni
Iersfty bicycle team and gained his mil
ftary title with the Elton voluntee
battery.
on his hobby. particlarly on the futur