Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-01-05
FELLOW AV|ATORS
DARED Do LITTLE
Shock of Hoxsey's Death Made
Them as Careful as the
Early Pioneers.
EXPLANATION OF ACCIDENT
Fatalist Had Glided Down 1000
Feet and Was Unaware of the
Treacherous Gale near
the Earth.
EXPLANATION OF ACCIDENT

were HNlnS events NJ tne aviation neld |
To-day but the memory OF Arch Hox-
sey's death hung like a pail over avi- |
ators and spectators. The Tiers worked
as cautiously as did the early pio-
neer' in their aerial experiments tina;
brought flight within the realm Of sc
comrlished Jciences, as the wind was
almost as trcacherous as it was yes
terdsy. when 1t caught Hoxsey and
scd Linn TO oath.
All tho avlators assembled, but they
row apparently only because their
contracts called Tor daily Nights and
hccsii". there werc people in the
grand9tands who had paid money TO
see Them ~ None of them remained
In the air moro than a few minutes
,nd long before the program was com
pletcd the committee dismissed tho
spectators with the announcement that
the meet, which was to close Tues
day, would end tomorrow. Tuesday
is the day set for the funeral Of fIox-
sew
Walter Rrookins. who coached tIoX-
sey in the art Of Tying. was pale and
nervous to-day when he brought his
biplane on the field and in the short
tempted the thrilling spiral dives
which he originated and which HoX-
sey was emulating when he fell
Parmalee the only other surviving
member of the Wright team of four
that started west a few weeks ago,
also kept close to the ground
sCURRlED TO THE GROUND.
Hubert Latham was the only aviator
TO keep his machine more than half an
hour Radley for time refused to at
tempt a flight at all. 1t was only when
the wind lulled a little that he consented
to ascend. After rising he encountered
gusts that threatened his control over
his machine. and he promptly descended.
That is the last for me in winds like
this. am taking no chances" he said.
While Eugene Ely was making a flight,
guy wire parted and becoming en-
tangled in his propeller broke a piece off
one of the blades. Ely pointed his ma
| chine downward taking a sharp angle to
get to earth as quickly as possible. A
shout Of apprehension rose from the spec
tators. but Ely landed safely with a jolt
that only Jared him.
Hoxsey's body was removed to Pasa-
|
airy chapel until Roy Knabenshue, man
ager OF Wright team, completes plans
for the funeral All funeral expenses will
be borne by the Wright brothers and a
sum will be given to Mrs, Hoxsey. 1t
was learned tonight that every cent
which Hoxsey made during his entire
aviation work was given to his mother.
BOTH WERE PREPARED
Mrs. Hoxsey. mother Of the dead
viator. will also receive approximate
| ~ $4,000, It is said. from the avia
| ton committee the the winnings
OF her son during the meet. The al
titude prize OF $4,000 was won by
| HoXsey last Monday. His American
enduran record OF three hours and
II minutes, made the day before his
death. undoubtedly Will stand and
this will add $4,000 more to the purse.
Hoxseys winnings of daily altitude
and endurance will amount to $4,000
additional.
Mrs Hoxsey is quiet. little wo-
man, CO years old. She has been a
widow for 10 years. during which she
has lived with her son.
Hoxsey was fstalist. He believed
that when his time came to die he
would die. no matter where he was
or what I've was doing lie talked OF
this so much TO his mother that she
came ia believe the same as ne did
This accounts much for his fearless
ness and the resignation OF his moth
er.
"Honsey'S last effort seemed to be
10 adjust his machine and to keep
on nyins." said Phil Parmalee, the
speed aviator Of the Wright camp,
after he had viewed the aeroplane IN
which HoXsey fell to death.
The Indications from tho way the
neroplane FEN are that Hoxsey used a
mighty effort to right himself. II he
had had % feet more between himself
and the ground he might nave succeeded
The machine struck almost IN it's bot
tom. That indicates that it was Fighting
even while The aviator was whred in Il
series Of somersault.
"Tioxsey worked with a cecil head to
the very last second o. his life He neNe,
los, his nerve FOR al instant. When he
wen; up a light wind was blowing, In tho
nour ard Is minutes he was aloft, this
Increased to n sUsty deceptive gale HoX-
sew va. unaware OF this. and he glided
down from an altitude of 900 feet with
his motor shut off and anticipating no
danger.