The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-24
After Marking a New Era
In Aviation Chavez Is
Badly Hurt
TWO OTHERS TRY FLIGHT
BUT QUICKLY GIVE UP
Chavez Flies SUCCESSFULLY Over Dangers
Gus Route and Is Caught In
Gust of Wind Just He
Tries to Land

Domodossola, Italy, September 23.-The
great feat of crossing the snow-capped
Alpine barrier between Switzerland and
Italy in a heavier than air machine was
accomplished today by George Chavez,
the young Peruvian aviator.
The plucky hero of the exploit, however,
lies tonight in a local hospital badly in
jured as the result of an accident that
occurred just as he had accomplished
the most arduous and nerve-racking por-
tion of task he had set out to accom-
plsh-a flight from Brig, in Switzerland,
across the Alps to Milan, in Italy, In az
a distance of about 70 miles.
Both his legs are broken, his left thigh
is fractured and his body is badly con-
tused but the physicians In attendance
are of the opinion that the hurts will
not prove fatal and that unless unlocked
for complications ensue Chavez will be
about In two months.
The accident occurred as Chavez was
endeavoring to make landing here.
The Alps had been crossed successfully
and the aviator was descending with the
power of his machine cut off.
Monoplane Wrecked
When about 80 feet above the ground
sudden gust of wind seemed to catch
lHe lHOllOpldht, WHICH, lhlhtd Ofci anu
fell. When the crowds that had been
watching the descent ran up they found
Chavez lying bleeding and unconscious
beneath the twisted wreck Willing
hands lifted the aviator from the ground
and bore him to the hospital.
Fifty miles away and over country
that has none of the hazards of the
Alps lay Milan, the goal Chavez was
seeking in an endeavor to win prize
of $40 600 offered by the Italian Aviation
society Chavez. had lost the race.
The weather at Brig was clear and
bright when Chavez made lls staft
Leaving the ground with his motor -
ming at full speed he rose in sweeI
circles until he had reached an altit
sufficient for him to clear the Re
Shoulder. to the southeastward of Br
This obstacle having been overcome,
Peruvian aviator headed his monoplarl
straight for the snow-capped crags o
the Fletchern Constantly ascending-N
Chavez reached the Simplon Kuhn, where
at an altitude estimated at 72O0 feet he
turned his machine south over the terri
flying Simplon Pass, with the Kaltwas-
ser glacier at his left and the frozen
peak of the Hubschhorn at his right.
Flight Over Glacier
After crossing the divide, instead of
taking a short cut over the Monzera
Pass, huge, sharp edged glacier.
Chavez turned to the towering white
mountain head of Monte Leone. which
rises to a height of 1854 feet, and
passed down above the Condo Gorge,
deep gulf between sheer walls. until
he reached the open valley of Vedro,
and then descended easily toward Do
modossola, which is $50 feet above sea
level 1t was here that the accident
happened.
Some of the spectators of the flight
say that Chavez, after crossing the
Simplon Pass, followed the short cut
route over the Monzera Pass, which
is 5000 feet above sea level. If this
be so 1t is possible that the Peruvian
beat his own worlds record for height
of S271 feet
The 25 miles between Brig and Do
modossola, which it took the armies
of Napoleon a fortnight to negotiate,
Chavez accomplished by the route of
the eagle in exactly 40 minutes. From
the high point at Monzera he descend
ed 1000 feet In 13 minutes, his ma
chine gaining in momentum as 1t flew
over the tumble of lower peaks, gul1ies
and hills beyond until the speed was
terrific as 1t approached the aero
drome here. This doubtless caused the
accident, which turned the cheers of
cries of horror when the machine came
hurting to the ground just as 1t seemed
that Chavez was about to alight in
safety.
After treatment in the hospital Cha
vez regained Consciousness He suf-
fered terribly from his hurts. He said
he was unable to explain how the ac-
cident had occurred--that he could not
remember falling. The generally ac-
cepted opinion is that the accident was
due to a slight shift in the rudder
while the monoplane was being sent at
high rate of speed.
Thousands of the aviator's friends ana
admirers arrived from Milan and other
points to tender their services to Chavez.
Among them was M. Paillette, who II
had been reported earlier in the day. had
started from Brig In his aeroplane ana
had landed safely at Stresa. Paillette
did not even make an attempt at fight.
having abandoned the race and packed
his machine for shipment.
Henry Weymann, the American aviator
who made two unsuccessful attempts IN
the Brig Milan race today, sent teie-
gram of sympathy to Chavez. saying:
my sincere and enthusiastic congrat-
ulations on your victory. | am heart
broken over your accident and you have
NV prayerful wishes for an early recov-
cry"
sympathy for Weymann
Much sympathy is expressed here for
Weymann. Although his motor had re-
peatedy given demonstrations of its IN
ability to reach attitudes Weymann MADE
a last desperate effort to win the race.
hearing that Chavez had met with an ac-
cident
He managed to climb over the Rest
Shoulder, but finding that the aeropiane
was incapable of flying higher he re-
turned to Brig and alighted
Three Frenchmen who were racing IN
an automobile from Brig to the scene OF
the accident, were ditched. 1t Is said
tina. they were fatally wounded. AL
though Chavez did not succeed In win
ming the prize of 10000, having failed to
reach Milan, some of the members OF
the aviation committee are in favor OF
turning over the prize to him and erect
ing monument in commemoration OF
mans first flight across the Alps.
Late tonight the doctors at the hospital
(GnNTINuEn on RAAm N