Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-18
NEARLY EVERY BONE IN
His BODY is BROKEN
Man-Bird, HoIdisg the Worlds Rec
ORD for Altitude, Attempts to Thrill
the Spectators With An Extra Col
raj Glide When Accident Happ rs
Bloody Wrecksqe Is snstche'l
from Lifeiess Body As Souvenirs.
(By Associated Press,

<by ASSpCldttu fft8cJ
DENVER. COLO. Nov. 17-With
the one wing tip of his machine
crumpled like piece of paper, Ralph
tombstone, the brilliant young avia-
tor. holder Of the worlds altitude
record. dropped like a pIummet from
a height of 500 feet intd he Enclosure
at Overland Park aviation field, late
today and was instantly killed.
When the spectators crowded about
the Enclosure, reached him, his body
lay beneath the engine Of the bipIane
with the white planes that had
sailad him in his time OF need, wrap
ped about Ii like shroud. Nearly
every bone in his body was broken.
He had gambled with death once too
often, but he played the game to the
end, fighting coolly and grimly TO
the hast second to regain cont5pl of
his broken machine Fresh from his
triurphs at Belmont Park where he
had broken the worlds record for al
titude, with a flight of 9,714 feet,
tombstone attempted to give the thou
sands of spectators an extra thrill
with his most daring feat, the spiral
glide which has made the Wright
aviators famous. The spectators got
their thrill, but it cost tombstone his
life.
Second Flight of the Day.
The fatal fight was the second
tombstone had made this afternoon.
In the first fight when he was in the
air with Hoxsey and Brookins. he
had gone through his usual program
of dips and giides with the machine
apparently under perfect control.
Then tombstone rose again and after
a few circuits Of the course TO gain
height. headed toward the foothills.
Still ascending, he swept back in a
big circle and as he reached the north
end of the enclosure. he started his
spiral glide He was then at an alti-
tude of about 500 fleets The machine
tilted at an angle of nearly so de-
grees. and ne swooped down in mar
row circle. the aeroplane seeming 10
turn almost in its own length. As he
started the second circle. the middle
spur. which braces the left ride of the
lower plane. gave way and the wing
tips of both upper andeiower planes
folded up as though tlsey had bees
hinged For second tombstone at
tempted 10 right the plane by warp
ing the other wing lip. Then the hor-
riiied spectators saw the plano
swervc like wounded bird and
plunge straight toward &c. earth
His Fight for Life.
tombstone was thrown from his
seat as the nose of the p'ane swuBg
downward. lie caught on one OF the
wire stays between the planes and
grasped one Of the wooden braces of
the upper plane with both hands.
Then. working with hands and feet
he Tough; by main strength to warp
the planes so that their snrf0cs
might catch the air and check his
dcsfenf. For a second II seemed that
he might succeed. for the football
helmet nc. wore blew on and fell
much more rapidly than the plane
The hope was momcmzry. however
for when abou; 300 feet from The
ground. the machine turned complete
" over and the spectators ncd wildly
az the broken plane with the aviasoT
stilI fighting xrimiy in its mesh OF
wires and stays, plunged among them
with a crash.
Fight fer Souvenirs
Scarcely had Johnstoae hit the
ground before morbid men and
women swsrrncd over the vreckagc
fighting with each other for souvcrlrs.
One of the wooden stays had Eose
almost through Johnstonc's body.
Before doctors or police could reach
the scene ono man had torn thiz
splinter from the body and ran away.
carrying his trophy with the aviaior's
blood sssn dripping from rs end. The
crowd tore away the canvas from
over the body. and even fought fo-
the gloves that bad protected John
stoves hands from The cold.
The machine fcil on che opIs't &c
sldc If the field 10 that Of the grand
stand. and fhcrc wgrr bu; few pcr-
sons AGAR the spot. but physicians
and police ~crc rushed across IS
som a. possible.
Physicians declare death must have