Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-01


than 400 feet above the highest mountain
IN California, ran afoul Of the same kind
Of shifty, treacherous wind when a mat
ter Of some 500 feet in the air and a min
ute later Mortified crowd. aroused from
its schock. was rushing madly TO where
a broken mass Of humanity lay beneath
a torn bit OF canvas and some broken
spars
Meet Death In same Manner.
Both met death I'm almost the same man
ner. Each machine was headed for the
earth and suddenly seemed TO stop. hover,
then turn over onto its nose" and dive
headlong TO the earth-and to Obstruction.
Moissant's aeroplane was a Bleriot mono
plane and in addition to the heavy engine
in front OF the main planes. he had fas-
tened tank holding thirty-five gallons
OF gasoline. Aviation experts believe
sudden puff of wind stopped his machine
I'm the air and the heavy weight ahead
dragged the light framework behind It,
Tipping the then useless elevator toward
the zenith in derlsion.
From his position partly back OF the
main planes. Moissant was fiipped out
clear Of the machine and struck the ground
breaking his neck. He died on flat car
on which he was being rushed to New
Orleans.
Hoxsey, likewise. was returning from a
journey into the clouds. He was within
300 feet Of the earth and cheers were going
up to meet him, when his machine, like
wise, seemed to stop still. shudder and
whirl over and over to the ground. As
In the mornings tragedy the rear eleva-
tor, rendered useless when the momentum
was gone, flopped around useless.
HOxsey's Efforts Useless.
Hoxsey vainly endeavored to right his
craft by warping the main planes and by
the use OF the rudder. Vain attempts they
were, for before sufficient momentum was
gained the structure crumpled upon the
earth, the heavy engine being torn loose
Only few farm hands saw Moissant hur-
tie to his death, but Hoxseys end came
before the Mortified gaze OF thousands
who had come out during the pleasant
afternoon to watch the birdmen darting
here and there through the air, shaming
the birds themselves. In a few moments
an announcer, sadly lifting his megaphone,
dragged out the dscouraging news to the
still hoping crowd arch Hoxsey has
been killed There will be no more flying
today"
Mrs, c., M. Hoxsey Of Pasadena. Cal,
missed by a mere accident seeing her son
meet his death. She had arranged to at
tend the tournament and TO take her first
aeroplane ride with her son. Some Detail
OF Importance in her household kept her
at home and word Of the accident was
taken to her by Roy Knabenschue and
Thomas Jackson of the Wright Exhibit
ton company.
Previous FOrecasts
Forecasts of a fatal accident were made
In both instances. A fifteen-mile wind
with gusty intervals caused hangar at
tendants to shake their heads at Moissant.
but he laughed at them and sailed up for
try at the long distance sustained fAght
and the Michelin cup with its attendant
$1,000 prize. Death was the victor in the
long contest 1t has fought with the tar
ing Chicagoan.
When Walter Brookins and Hoxsey. Uho.
with Parmelee, alone were left OF the
Wright exhibiting teams, wheeled their
machines out, warnings were offered by
half score of other flyers, each of whom
bore record for daring in the air.
ITS too fun Of holes up there today"
they all agreed. IT'S just like a Swiss
cheese better stay on the ground
Hoxsey, smiling as he had done on a day
In a similar wind when he had gone up into
the flue to new worlds record for height.
again took the air, His Paragraph still
running when the crowds reached the heap
OF humanity and canvas and broken sticks,
showed the fatal drop started when the
aviator had come down to within 5s3 feet
of the ground.
Hoxsey met with one Of his first acct
dents during his visit to Lincoln the first
week In September, while he was making
an exhibition flight for the state fair
crowds. He fell on a speed barn and his
machine was wrecked. 1t was not long
AFTER this that he first came into the
limelight by taking Colonel Roosevelt for
a flight at st Louis.
Details of HOXseY'a Fall.
Los ANGELES, Dec. s1.-Arch Hoxsey
had been the star performer at the big meet