The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-13
Captain Rolls Loses Life
While Making Air Trip
FALLS ONE HUNDRED FEET
and Dangerous Sports In England
and His Death Causes Very
Deep Regret

Bournemouth, England July 12.-The
first flying tournament of the year In
England was brought to a tragic close
this morning by the dramatic death of
the most daring and popular British av-
iator, the Hon. Charles s. Rolls third
son of Lord Llangttack. In the presence
of great company of spectators, a ma
jority of whom were ladies 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 pass and
before the doctors and their assistants
could reach the spet Rolls was dead.
The event In which Rolls was compet-
ing was for prize for the aviator alight
ing nearest a given mark. The goal was
directly in front of the grandstand where
the spectators were massed. He had
risen to good height, then shut Off his
motor, and was gliding In broad circle
toward the mark. Without warning the
tail-piece of the biplane snapped Off The
framework crumpled up in tho air. When
1t struck tho ground 1t was smashed into
splinters.
The doctors found that Rolls had sus-
tanned a fractured skull. The wreck of
the machine and twisted stays sur
rounded the body so that there was diff
ficulty in extricating him.
Immediately after the result of Rolls
accident was known flying for the day
was suspended
| Career of Captain Rolls
| Capt. the Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls
was 80 wears old, ans was one Of the
most popular yong all-round sportsmen
in England. His death will be a great
blow to aristocratic sporting enthusi-
asts, with all of whom he was a greet
personal favorite. At ballooning at mo-
toring, and later in the field of aviation
he had distinguished himself by his ut
ter fearlessness and was satisfied with
nothing short of record breaking in what
ever line of sport he took to.
Undoubtedly his crowning feat was
his round trip across the channel be-
tween Dover and Calais in Wright BIZ
plane on June last. Two Frenchmen,
Louis Bleriot and Count De Lesseps, al
ready had crossed the channel, and Hu-
bert Latham had almost succeeded. Chan
mel flying was at discount in England,
because 1t was considered an old story,
and also because Of national pride, which
had suffered from the monopoly Of It by
F'renchmen. when Rolls electrified the
entire kingdom by doubling the accom-
nj ut1 anto rf !, ,fC
/ The distance between Dover and Calais
is 21 miles and when Rolls did the round
| trip of AZ miles in 90 minutes withovt
stopping his performance was marvellous,
both for distance and time. In his youth
Rolls was one Of the pioneers in motor
ing In England. He drove a motor car
about while the ordinance was still in
force that every self-propelled vehicle on
the public roads must be preceded by
man carrying q red flag to warn pedes-
trains. In 1900 he won the gold medal
in the thousand miles automobile race.
He was the representative Of Great
Britain In the Gordon Bennet race In
| 1905 and several times made worlds rec
ords for speed As balloonist Rolls had
made moro than $50 ascensions and cross
ed the channel several times In balloons.
Planned Trip to United States
| Captain Rolls had expected to come to
| the United States this fall to give ex-
hibitions of flying and to compete In any
meeting that might be held. After his
flight across the channel he received tele
grams of congratulation from King
George and Queen Mary. He WAS given
the gold medal of the Royal Aero club.
Altogether he was one Of the most con-
spicuous figures in England.
| Captain Rolls Is the twelfth victim Of
the science of aviation. The death roll fol-
lows: 1908. September IT. selfndge, Lieut..
Thomas g.. U. 8. A.. killed In fall with
Orville Wright near Warrington; 1909.
September Z, Ena. Ross O.. italian. killed
| in Rome in machine Of his own inven-
tion; September z, Lefevre, E., killed In
Wright machine at Juvissy surGeorge,
France; September %, Feber. Capt. Louis
F., killed at Boulogne, France; December
| 6, Antonio Fernandez, Spaniard, killed at
Nice falling 1000 feet after motor ex-
ploded; 1910, January 4, Delagranee. Leon,
killed at Bordeaux, France: April ?, Her
| bert. Leblon. instantly killed, falling on
rocks at San Sebastian, 6pain: May 10.
Michelin, eheavette. killed at Lyons,
France: June II. 6peyer. Eugene, killed
at San Francisco; June IS. Robel. killed
at 6tettin. Germany; June l. Wachter,
Carts, killed at Rheims In Antonette mon
orlopa, IA arnvasa nn DooNa o1t,rnc<