New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-20
ELY FALLS TO HIS DEATH
Continued from first page.
keep it up until I am killed" was the

Mrs Eugene Ely. the wife Of the avia-
tor, received the first news that her hus~
band had met with an accident when she
was called 10 the telephone at her home
40. 164 West 74th street A member Of
the Curtiss school had been commits
stoned n say that Mr.. Ely had fallen
and was injured. In the mean time an
other Curtiss representative had started
for the Ely home He gave Mrs. Ely
the details Of the accident finally telling
her her husband was dead. Mrs. Ely
tainted. and physicians were summoned
70 attend her. II had been customary
for Mrs Ely 10 accompany her husband
TO the places where he was 10 fly but
FOR some reason or other she decided not
to 60 with him 10 Georgia.
First to Fly from Wsrship.
Eugene B. Ely won his chief claim 70 the
front ranks Of American avlators in No
vernber. 1910. when he mace a successful
flight from the deck of the United States
steamship Birmingham off Norfolk, Va.
the first 10 perform such feat. Not 70 be
satisfied till he could achieve the supple
mentary accomplishment Of landing on
vessels deck. the armored cruiser Pennsyl-
vania. stationed ar San Francisco. vas de-
tailed for his experiments on January IS
Of this year he few from the aviation field
ten miles away and aliChted on board with
out mishap. After a few minutes he arose
again and returned 10 his starting point.
These experiments OF his added immeasura-
bly, TO the APPARENT availability Of the aero
plane in naval warfare.
This and other work OF his won him an
international reputation as an expert. con-
sentative and experienced pilot. He proba-
bly, did more than any other American
aviator IN furthering military experiments
with the heavier-th sn-air machine. He
was employed as a demonstrstor Of aero
planes bought for the United States army
az San Antonio. Tex He also made many
scouting experiments for the army ar san
Francisco He held commission as lieu
tenant in the California National Guard
and was highly regarded in army and navy
circles.
Mr.. Ely was born In Iowa twentY-six
years ago. but had made his residence in
California the greater part Of his life His
home was near San Francisco. He also
had an apartment in this city. Al his
early attempts at earning a living we're
failures Then he sought work as chauf-
feur and. being OF an adventurous spirit.
the natural step was from the automobile
70 the Aying machine In June, 1910. he
Joined Glenn r Curtiss at Minneapolis.
and since then had made hundreds Of ex-
hibition Hights
he leaves ? wife who is 2 daughter Of
the principal Of the High School at Corte
Madero. Cal Mrs Ely frequently accom-
paried her husband and saw most Of his
fights T. vas a custom Of theirs that
she should be the last 70 bid him goodby
az the beginning Of a fight and the first
To greet him or his return
"One Of the Br7yest Men in the World"
u think ny husband one OF the bravest
men IN the world" she said once. Were
YOU ever in an elevator that shot 1T sud
deniy for about twelve stories, and YOU
felt ~ might 90 on indefinitely? You
closed your owes AMI held your breath,
didn't vow That's exactly ny sensation
when Mr. Ely makes the ascent. Once Up,
7 never allow the thought Of an accident
20 enter my mind That would be wrong
Whenever the biplane hovers uncertainty,
shut nv eyes and wish him safety never
could endure the suspense Of not being
there 10 see Sometimes pe take little