Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-12

SAAHashA|c Ss AeOhHss
BOURNEMOUTH. England. July IA
The first flying tournament of the year IN
England was brought to a tragic close
this morning by the dramatic death Of the
the Hon. Charles s. Rolls. third son Of
Lord Llangattock.
In the presence of a great company OF
spectators. a majority Of whom were
ladies and children. and many personal
friends of the young aviator the Wright
bipiane on which he was flying fell sud
denly. with terrific speed, from q height
Of 100 feet.
Rolls Killed Instantly.
It struck the ground close to the sroWa-
ed grandstand. and smashed into . tan
gied mass. Before the physicians and
their assistants could reach the spot Rolls
was dead.
The event in which Rolls was competiug
was for a prize for the aviator alighting
nearest a given mark. The goal was
directly in front of the grandstand. whore
the spectators were massed.
Rolls had risen to a good height, then
shut OF his motor and was gliding in .
broad circle toward the mark. Without
warning the tail piece of the biplans
snapped OF.
The machine gave a sudden lurch and
the frame work crumpled up In the air.
When 1t struck the ground it was smash
ed to splinters.
The physicians found that Rolls had
of the machine and twisted stays sur
Guilty in extricating him.
Flying Ended for Day.
Immediately after the result Of Rolls
accident was known the committee an
nounced that flying would be suspended
for the day.
Lord and Lady Llangattock. parents OF
Rolls, narrowly escaped witnessing the
catastrophe. Tney were yachting along
the coast, and put in at Poole. near
Bournemouth. this morning, intending 70
attend the aviation meeting, but post
poned going until afternoon.
Audemars. the Swiss aviator. had
close shave while making trial night
above the Bournemouth field His mono
plane overturned and descended swiltiy
to the ground, but he escaped without
injury.
Popular Aristocratic Sport.
Capt. the Honorable Charles Stewart
Rolls was thirty-three years old, ana
was one Of the most popular young all
around sportsmen in England. His death
will be a great blow to aristocratic sport
ing enthusiasts, with all of whom he was
a great personal favorite.
At ballooning. At motoring and. later. In
the field Of aviation, he had distinguish
ed himself by his utter fearlessness, and
was satisfied with nothing short OF
ecord-breaking In whatever line OF sport
he took up.
Undoubtedly his crowning feat was his
round-trip across the channel between
June 2 last. The Frenchman, Louis
Bleriot and Count de Lesseps, Already
had crossed the channel, and Hubert
Latham had almost succeeded
over Channel and. Back.
Channel flying was at a discount in
England because il was considered an
old story, and also because nationai
pride suffered from the monopoly Of IL
by Frenchmen, when Rolls electrified
the entire Kingdom by doubling the ac-
complishments OF his predecessors.
The distance between Dover and Calais
round trip of forty-two miles In ninety
minutes without stopping. his performance
was a marvellous one. both for distance
and time.
Rolls was as modest as he was daring.
and received the congratulations which
were showered upon him after his great
feat almost with embarrassment
In his youth Rolls was one OF the
pioneers of motoring In England. He
drove a motor car about. while the or
dinance was still in force that every self
propeiled vehicle on the public roads must
be preceded by man carrying red
nag TO warn pedestrians. Since 1885 he has
been one OF the best known motor exc
perts in Europe.
In 1900 he won the gold medal In the
thousa nd-miie automobile race. He was
the representative of Great Bratafn in
the Gordon Bennett race OF 1905 and sev-
eral times made worlds records Tor
speed
Career - Dalloonist.
As q bailoonist Rolls had maIe more