Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-18
Holder OF Worlds Altitude
Record Falls 500
Feet.
LIGHT AIR is CAUSE
Frenzied Crowd Takes Pieces
of AirShip and Even Cloth
ing as Souvenirs.

Denver, Nov. 1s.-Ralph JohnstonA
the Wright brothers most daring avia-
tor and the holder of the worlds rec
ord for altitude flights, fell 500 feet at
Overland park yesterday, and broke
every bone in his body. In attempting
a spiral glide" TO the earth he forgot
for moment that the atmosphere here
has not the carrying power OF that to
which he was accustomed, and death
was instantly his penalty.
Many thousands of spectators were
on the field when Johnstone fell. but
only few hundred of them actually
saw the accident, for the attention of
the great crowd was centered upon
Johnstone's partner. Hoxsey, then cir
cling 1000 feet in the air.
Machines wings shrOud.
Johnstone fell just outside the avia-
tion field with the white wings OF the
biplane crumpled about him like a
shroud. The moment he struck the
ground rush was made for the spot
by the hundreds who had seen him
drop.
Shameful scenes followed. Scarcely
taking the trouble TO ascertain wheth-
er or not the aviator was dead, souve-
mir hunters swooped down on the brok-
en- aeroplane like a flock OF hungry
harpies and literally tore IT TO pieces.
Took spIInters From Body.
One man stole the dead aviator's
| gloves. and another actually seized a
piece Of the airships framework which
had passed through bis body, drew Il
from the wound and ran off with the
dripping trophy, laughing like a ghoul.
Only the arrival of Walter Broolins.
the aviator who made the sensational
flights in Chicago for the Record Her
aid, and squad Of policemen pre-
vented the crowd from taking the
clothes off the dead mans body.
Trick Glide IL Fatal,
Johnstone's death came Just as he
was descending to safety. He had
gone up with Arch Hoxsey, another
Wright employe, and after reaching an
altitude of $500 feet had started on
his descent TO the field. A few hawk
like circles brought him within 700
feet Of his landing place, and then he
started the spectacular spiral glide"
the only trick in his repertoire, for he
was an altitude flyer, that was 10
bring him TO his landing place.
once the biplane swooped in a cir
Gle toward the earth, and then the
aviator tilted it until it seemed almost
at the perpendicular. The machine
ripped through the air at a tremen-
dous speed, the great force of the de
scent being borne by the lower end OF
the planes. Reaching the end OF his
circle. Johnstone attempted TO right
the airship for the final glide-and
then something happened.
Tip Doubles Up.
The lower tip of the upper plane
seemed to double up like a piece of
paper, and the tip OF the lower plane
folded back as though II were on
hinges.
Johnstone seemed 20 realize instant
ly the peril of his position and his
nerve did not fail him. Standing up
from his seat he grasped the upper
plane with both hands and attempted
by main strength to warp IL into posi-
ton to catch the afr and check the
force of his downward rush. For pos
sibIy five seconds this life and death
fight in midair continued. and for
part of that time It seemed as though
the aviator might win.
A woman on the ground below
glanced up and saw the aviator stand
ing. She thought he was performing
a new trick and called out, Look"
Makes Some Hendwny.
While the cry still rang in the air
Johnstone's heavy football helmet fell
from his head and dropped toward the
ground 1t was proof 10 those of the
watchers who knew the real meaning
of his struggle that he was making
headway against the power OF gravita.
ton
Then suddenly, like a stone dropped
from the top of a precipice, the acre
plane plunged toward the ground,
turning over twice as IL fell.
my Cod" screamed the woman,
hes gone.r
A second later Johnstone lay dead
amid the ruins OF his machine.
Was Trick CycIIst.
The dead aviator was born in Kan
sas City 30 years ago. His parents
are dead. An invalid sister. Miss May
Johnstone lives in Moberly. Mo. John
stones wife and two children, boy
and a girl. are in New York
Johnstone was a trick cyclist before
cTf-