New-York tribune., 1911-01-01

ELT UP AT ST. GOVERNOR FRA!
test OF Claude Grahame-White, whom Mol
SAINT defeated.
Soon after the Belmont Park meet Mol
SAINT organized a group OF aviators into
travelling company. and began an eXhioi-
tion tour OF the South and West. At Mem
phls he defeated Joe Seymour. He gave
the convicts in the state penitentiary at
Richmond a treat by driving his Bleriot
over the prison yard. Last week he went
UP 1000 feet in a snow wstorm at Tupelo,
Miss, with the wind blowing seventy miles
an hour. While he was UP the spectators
raised purse Of 5000 and presented it to
him on his return to the ground. At New
Orleans, where he made his rerilous de-
scent early this week and where he met
his death. he was the central figure. To-
morrow he Was TO depart for Havana, to
take part In the first Cuban aviation meet.
Before starting he was to receive gold
loving cup from the Central American resi-
dents OF New Orleans.
He had invented and operated an all
aluminium machine. calculated to go ninety
miles an hour.
No record OF Moisants career in aviation
would be complete without mention OF the
kitten which he took with him as mascot
on his flights.
Speaking of his work while ago, he
said:
Confidence is nine-tenths Of flying. A
man may not be afraid, but ne may be
nervous. If he is nervous he should not
go in a flying machine. There has been
too much mystery made of this flying game.
1t is not difficult. l find 1t much easier 10
steer a flying machine than an automobile.
/ can do anything l want in an aeroplane.
There are nC orners TO cut off, no stones
in the road, no dogs or cats. And the
faster SO g the safer we are.
"Aeroplares will be common very soon;
but first we must have suitable stations for
'cross-country flights We wouldn't expect
a ship drawing forty feet TO dock in twenty
feet of water. Aeroplanes must have land
ing accommodations. and not be at the
mercy Of wind and rain. On my trip from
Paris to London my machine was never un-
der cover"
A Soldier Of Fortune.
Before becoming q navigator OF the air
Re was a planter in Salvador, in partnership
with his brothers George and Alfred, and
incidentally was a soldier of fortune. In
several exploits in the latter role he proved
himself a daring, reckless fighter, and he
vas q conspicuous figure In three Central
American countries, where he INDUCED IN
their gunpowder politics.
hic cto ~ n
friend, made Moisant a colonel In the Mic
araguan army, in recognition OF his daring
and fighting ability. AS recently as March,
1909. the aviator was mixed UP In plot TO
overthrow President Figueroa OF Salvador,
which was frustrated by the interference
of the American cruiser Albany.
The Moisant brothers were prosperous
PLANTERS in Salvador when johnny" as the
most active Of the three was known there,
evolved a plan for the overthrow OF Presl-
dent Tomas Regalado. The Salvadoran
government confscated the property OF the
Moisants and caused the laborers 10 be
hanged by the thumbs in an effort TO get
some incrimnatng information about
Johnny" who had fled The brothers file
a large claim with the State Department at
w
vador and Mr.. Merry. American Minister TO
Costa Rica, was sent to Salvador to fnvesti-
gate the matter
The scene OF johnny Moisant's next ex-
ploit was Honduras. Manuel Bonilla was
President and General DaviIa wanted his
Job. Ex-President Policarpo Bonilla was
the latters revolutionary campaign man.
ager Moisant contributed $4,000 to the
Davila revolution through Policarpo Bo-
nilla, who promised that II the movement
was successful the Moisant brothers should
have a concession for a government bank
in Tegucigalpa. The revolution was sue
oessful, the Congress passed law for the
granting Of the concession, bu' Davila,
who had coIne into power repudiated the
6eal made by his campaign manager. Mol
sant was out his $4,000 and tried again 10
interest the state Department in his trou-
bles.
In 1907 Moisant became military iigure
in Nicaragua He was regarded as
sport" and good fellow at Managua,
and had a good sized exchequer. He at
tracted the attention OF President Zelaya,
who found in Mosant ready aid in the
Nicaraguan Presidents planned exploita-
"a
ment Of Salvador Zelaya made the Ameri-
can a colonel and placed him at the head
of an expedition of Salvadoran malcontents
on board the Ncaraguan gunboat Mono
tombo. The latter attacked Acajutla with
Colonel Molsant personally handling
the machine guns. and tho latter won the
victory. Zelaya praised Moisant for the
courage he displayed in that fight.
The la st revolutionary adventure Of Mol
SAINT was in March, 1903. when he again be-
came involved I'm an uprising against Saliva
cor. He supported Prudencio Altaro, VINO
sought TO overthrow President Figueroa.
Moisant was a slender little man, only D
feet inches tall, and swarthy as an Indian.
He was born in Chicago in 1870, OF French
Canadian parents
Although a brave and daring fellow on
element Of regard for his life which exists
in all men of the civilized world. despite
the apparent recklessness of some. This
care OF Moisant 70 take not more than
Wnat he thought an even chance was shown
in a statement that he made on the last
the Cafe Martin one Sunday night about
month ago. The little aviator had returned
the day before from Richmond, Va. and
tho next day was TO leave mere again for
the South 10 take part in the flights in
which he met his death. To friend who
10 take part in the purpused flight from
Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Fla. Moisant
Grafton, but not ten times that amount
would make II worth a man taking an ur-
due risk of breaking his neck"
~
-a,DI tnti AlIIHrnn IIrnr