Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-31
ONE OF MOST DARING skYMEN
KILLED WHILE MAKING FLIGHT
At NEW ORLEANS.
MoNoPLANE TAKES HEADER
WHILE 100 FEET IN AIH
Moisant Thrown Hesdlcns to Ground
and Expires Before Reaching Hos
pits'-Was Preparing to Contest For
MicheIin Cup and Distance Record
Has Had Thrilling Career.


Moisant, the aviator, was killed this
morning while trying to make a land
ms at Harahan, three miles above New
Orleans, when the machine turned head
ing Moisant out head first. The ma
chine was wrecked.
Moisant, in his fifty-Ahorse power
Bleriot m monoplane. with special thirty
five gallon gasoline tank aboard, left
the aviation field in this city at 10:05
and flew to Harahan, where special
grounds had been laid out. over which
the aviator was to try for the Michelin
cup. Moisant circled the field twice.
trying to find a landing place This was
difficult, the field being on the edge
Of the Mississippi river and swamps
on all other sides.
Machine Takes Header.
Suddenly, from some cause which
may never be known, the monoplane
turned head downward. The Mortified
watchers saw Moisant pitch clear over
head of the machine and fall like a
plummet fully 100 feet. landing on his
head.
Machine q Total Wreck.
The machine, with it's propellers still
working. turned sidewise and fell. a
complete wreck. Moisant was rushed
to fiat car and started for a hospital
in this city. He was still breathing when
placed aboard the car, but died before
reaching the hospital.
Had Thrilling Career.
Motsant was born in Chicago 1870.
When 10 years of age he had drfted
to Central America. became a soldier Of
fortune and trader and finally was
driven from San Salvatore when the
general under whom he was fighting
met defeat. Moisant at that time was
wealthy. but his property was confis-
wards he went to Spain and later
turned up at Paris when the Wright
brothers were there exhibiting their
machines. He became interested in the
possibilities Of flying machines. He soon
was an enthusiastic aviator and his
career was marked with daring ex-
ploits. Last August he made flight
from Paris to London with passenger.
being the first to accomplish this feat
The trip was made In the face OF a
storm.
Neck Broken by Fall.
Moisant landed on his head. thirty
six feet from where the machine struck
the ground. His neck was broken by
the fall and death resulted almost in
stantly. otherwise there was not a
bruise on the body. The moment Mots-
ant struck the earth, falling In weeds,
some workmen who happened to be
near picked him up, while newspaper
>n and officials rushed to him. A
sl .cial train Off lat cars was standing
near the scene Of the accident and the
body was placed aboard. brought to
the city and taken to an undertaking
establishment. The expression on
Moisant's face was that Of a sleeping
man, not the slightest trace of fear or
pain being apparent. The wind was
the cause Of the accident.
Attempted Famous Maneuvsr.
Moisant. guided by a white flag
which lined the course. rounded the
circle twice in an effort to find a land
ing place. The third time around the
wind, which was blowing about fifteen
miles across the course. drove the ma
chine towards the earth. Moisant, In
trying to get back over the grounds.
swerved suddenly to the left. then at
tempted his famous right circle, con-
sidered SO dangerous that, it is said
but one other man beside the dead
aviator ever attempted 1t. At this in
stant the wind caught the planes Of the
machine. 1t tipped. pointed its nose di-
rectly at the ground and came down
like a flash. while Moisant. hurled frim
the machine, dove headfirst to the
earth.