Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-11-18

Denver. Col. Nov I7.-With one wing
zip ~ his machine crumled up like a
piece OF paper. Ralph Johnstone. the
brilliant young aviator. holder OF the
worlds altitude record, dropped like a
Tlummet from a hefgiit of 500 feet into
the inciosure OF Overland park aviation
field. ana was instantly killed.
Fought 5raVely to Save Himself.
When the SPECTATORS crowded about
THE inclosure reached him his body lay
beneath the engine of the biplane. with
the white planes that had failed him
IN his time Of need wrapped about IT
like a shroud. Nearly every bone in
lis body was broken.
He had gambled with death once too
often. but he played the game to the
end. fighting coolIy and Grimly to the
last second TO gain control of his brok-
cn n1acnine- Fresh from his triunphs
St Belmont park. where he had brok-
Cn the worlds record for altitude with
o. iiEht Of 9.7l4 feet. Johnstone at
tempted TO give the thousands of spec
fators an extra thrill with his most
daring feat. the spiral glide which has
made the Wright aviators famous. The
spectators got their thrill but 1t cost
Jphnstone his life.
Fatal Second Flight.
The fatal fight vas The second John
etone made this afternoon. In the first
= Eit- " hen hc vas in the air with
14oxsey and Frookius. he went through
l~ tfsifai programme or 0lpS ana 2lOGS
: tn tho machine apparently under
perfect control. Then he rose again.
and rter Few circles of the course
a. gain height. headed toward the foot
ills Stil ascending. he swept back
g. a hig circle. and IS he reached the
irrth end ~ the enclosure he started
lis spiral glide. He vas then at an
Gititude Of about 500 feet.
Psrss Tilted az Angle of 90 Degrees.
With his planes tilted at an angle of
q lmost 90 degrees. he swoope1 down in
o narrow circle. the aeroDlane seeming
% turn almost IN its own length
Spectators Horrified.
40 he started the second circle the
middle spur whicl bra ces the left side
az the lower plane gave way and the
wing tips or both upper and lower
planes doubled MP as though they had
been hinFti. For g second JOleastone
ATTEMPTED 10 right The plane by warp
iHr the-other wing lip Then the horri-
2 ~ spectators saw TIN plane swerVe
and plunge straight toward the earth.
Joi,nstone was thrown from his seat
" the nose Of the-plane swung down.
ward.
He caught one OF the wire STAYS be-
tween the planes and Frssped one Of
I've wooden braces Of the upper plane
with both hands. Then working with
hands and feet. ne tried by main
strength 90 warp the planes so that
check his descent For second II
seemed he might succeed. for the foet-
tai1 helmet he wore blew off and fell
riucil more rapidly than the plane.
rhe hope was momeutary however
for when about three hundred feet
from the ground. the machine turned
completely over and the spectators fled
wildly as the broken plGne. with the
eFistor still struggling bravely in its
mesh Of wires and stays, plunged
Hmong them with "A crash.
Crowd Fought for Souvenirs of the
Crash.
Scarcely had tombstone hit the
ground before morbid men and women
tvarruei over the wreckage. fighting
With each other FOR souvenirs. one
a. the broken wooden STAYS had gone
most through Johnstone's body. Be
src doctors or police could reach the
s.c-.c on man tore this splinter from
The BODY and ran away. carrying his
trophv with the aviator's blood still
o-iunilg from is ends. The crowd tore
sNav the canvas from over the body
ard even fought for the gloves that
I'D n-otectei Johnstone's hands from
the cold.
Death instantaneous.
The machine fell on the opposite
r de or the field from the grandstsnd
and there were but a few hundred
rear the spot but physicians and po-
ice were rushed across as soon as
POSSIBLE. Physicians declare death
rrust have been insta ntaneous. for
Johnstone's nack. neck and legs We're
broken. The bones OF his thigh being
forced through the flesh and the
leather garments he wore.
Arch Hoxsev was i'm the air when
Tn accident took place. lie saw tnat
Tohmst0ne had fallen and descended
q soon as he could bring his plane to
the ground and rushed to the wreckage
: here hc and Walter BroolSins helped
lift the ma ugled form into an auto
mobile which brought IL TO the city.
Saw Him Dashed to Death.
NAM of the spectators were watch
irE Hoxse. IS flizht and did not see
Jo1usterf's machine collapse but "a vo-
snau'a shriek. ~. God, Hes gone,"
Grew every c.e in time 70 see him
Gashed % death. The band in the
Grsuds tand. biariuE away under con-
tract. never ceased TO play and john
stones body Was taken out OF The en-
closure Wilh the strains of a ragtime
melody for a funeral march,
Il would seem that many incidents
happened during the meet 70 warn the
si-fetef aviator. Yesterday in alight-
sn- Johnstonc broke the left wing tip
or his machine against the fence. II
vas the same tip that gave way to-
oay and caused his death.
Today when he started OF his first
ssropiene runs along the ground gave
way and had 10 be replaced.
Rare Atmosphere No Place to Attempt
Tricks"
IN discussing his flights in this rare
atmosphere yesterday Johnstone said
h would attempt mo tricks" here for
h considered IL too danzerous Evil
dentiy however. he believed he had
solved the problems of this altitude
vhe1 he Departed from his determine
rior
Hoxvey's daring flight far over the
foethifiS seemed 70 fire him with a
determination 10 outdo his team mate,
for the FIRST spiral. which he made
safely. vas g.. FAR the most daring
any of thf- ~ Niators lad attempted nt
this meet
HAD Only afEN fiV6 MONTHS
m The BUSINESS