Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-11-18
TOMBSTONE is
DEAD AFTER
800 Fl. FALL

Denver, Nov. 1S.-Losing control OF
his biplane in the air over Overland
park here, Ralph tombstone, who held
the worlds altitude record. fell 800
feet to the ground in his machine and
was killed almost instantly. After he
struck the earth he pulled convulsive-
ly at his helmet, gasped and expired.
From the time he lost control of the
machine until it struck the earth it
turned three complete somersaults
tombstone had been doing magnifi-
cent work in the air for two days and
previous to the accident had scared
away from the park and taken a turn
over Fort Logan. several miles dis
tant, while Hoxsey and Brookins were
maneuvering I'VE the park. When
the crowd saw him returning at an al
titude of about 800 feet there was a
great cheer. AS he gracefully dipped
his machine in response he was again
cheered, and he then began making a
spiral descent to the starting ground
In the park, and then 1t was noticed
that his machine wabbled several
times. Suddenly the aeroplane swerv-
ed and darted toward the ground,
turning somersaults.
Tried to Save Himself.
During the descent tombstone could
be seer clutching the levers about his
seat, while the frightened spectators
wondered IL by some chance he could
not right his machine and save him
self from death.
tombstone had trouble when he first
started preparations to fX.aHis- motor
worked badly, and after he got 1t SO
that it promised to give nc further
trouble he found that his steering ap-
paratus was not in good trim. and he
spent some time tinkering with it.
Then he had more trouble with his
motor, and 1t was some. time after
Brookins and Hoxsey were amusing
the crowds before he got into the air,
but when once up his graceful evolu-
tons obtained for him the major
share of attention and admiration.
Prookins and Hoxsey hurried to
J~ohnstone's side after his fall and
helped remove the body.
"Pm Careful" He Said.
tombstone said yesterday that he
would not try any new stunts here. as
he feared the upper currents. but his
spiral attempt had it been successful
would have surpassed anything his
comrades have tried.
When tombstone left the home of
his uncle in Kansas City on Sunday
with w. NJ. Federmann his uncle said:
81 suppose I'll receive a telegram one
of these days to come after your re-
mains"
mot mine" tombstone replied. when
I make a flight l have my plans well
laid. Before l leave the ground l
know exactly what / am going to do.
Don't worry about me being injured"
Mr.. Federman telegraphed that he
would come to Denver and take John
stones body to Kansas City for bur-
ial.
Formerly a Trick Bicycle Rider.
New York, Nov. 1S.-Ralph John
stone was born in Kansas City, Kan,
thirty years ago and is known the
world around for his trick bicycle rid
ing. One Of his most daring feats was
to ride a high wheeled bicycle down
along a flight of steps at the Hippo
drome In the earlier days. He was one
of the original five pupils of the
Wright brothers and has been one of
the big attractions at their meets.
At the recent Belmont park tourna-
ment he broke. the worlds altitude rec
ord in an ascent of 9,714 feet, for
which he was awarded the special
grand altitude prize of So, 1000. John
stone also captured the grand altitude
prize of $4,000 Oct. % IN a flight of
SAT- feet.
Held Many Records.
He was one of the star performers
at the Boston meet, held in Septem-
Der. and set up two American records.
In a flight of 3 hours 5. minutes 90
seconds he broke the American record
for duration. He made a new distance
marls for America by covering 101
miles and $50 feet. At the same meet
he took the prize for totalization of
duration. Using the same machine
throughout, he was in the air for
nearly thirteen hours during the meet
proper and Travelled a distance of
344.75 miles.
tombstone Is the first American avia-
tor TO meet death in a power driven
machine in this country. Lieutenant
Thomas Selfridge, who fell to death at
Fort Myer, Va, as a passenger with
Orville Wright. is the only other per-
Ion to be killed In an aeroplane acct
dent on this side.