New-York tribune., 1911-01-01
MO|SANT MET DEATH
SEEKING M|CHEu|N CUP
Dashed to the Earth by Treach.
erous Wind Current Near
New Orleans.
HAD JUST LEFT HIS BROTHER
Added Weight of Extra Gasolene
. Tank and Use Of StI1rge
Machine Factors in
Fatality.

New Orleans, Dec. 31.-Leaving the CRY
Park aviation field at sS5 O'Clock this
morning full OF vigor and hope. his eyes
sparkling in anticipation OF adding 10 MS
country's glory BY bringing the Michelln
cup TO America, John B. Moisant. one OF
the worlds most daring and sklllul aVl-
atcrs. few over New Orleans TO meet death
riding the wings of the wind near Hara-
han, eleven miles above the city twenty
minutes later
Tonight at the hour when he vas 10
have been the proud owner Of handsome
loving cup bearing the legend John %.
Moisant. the Glory OF Central America
contributed By the Central American colony
in New Orleans. the plucky aviator lies III
the morgue. a martyr 10 the science ot
aviation and to his country's fame
Brother Learns OF Death.
Alfred 7. Moisant, president of the In
terna tional Aviators Association. bade MS
brother a CHEEKY farewell just before ne
ascended at the City Park. Accompanied
by newspaper men and mechan!cians IN ar
automobile, he followed the flight OF his
brother 10 the place up the river where thC
cup trial was 70 take place, only 70 hs
met by the news that John p. Moisant va:
dAad
The added weight of an extra brass gaso'
lere tank, containing IS gallons and built
especially for the Michelin cup trials. ths
use Of q strange machine. and the deadly
prank Of a fifteen-mile wind at the mo
ment when he had pointed the nose OF
his machine az a sharp downward angie
combined in sending Moisant down 70 dealh
Thrown from his machine by its sudder
inclination. Moicant described a grim curve
through the air, and head first, Ike
diver, shot down, landing II his neck am
head. HIS neck was broken.
Rene Barriers 5Q-horsepowe: Blerio'
monoplans, which Moisant was using. Is
wreck
The story Of the accident Is best told oS
G. F. Campbell Wood, representative Of the
Aaro club Of America. who was within
few feet Of where bloisant struck Inc
ground Mr.. Wood was present IN Paris
few months ago when Moisant made his
wonderful flight with passenger over ina
city. and in England when Charles Rolls
! fell to his death.
Story Of an Eyewitness.
NJ Woods story Of to-day's tragedy
! follows.
| "At the time Moisant was killed thi'
morning he had just completed a prehnni
nary trial prior TO making his attempt 'o'
! the NIichelin distance cup Of 1910, compeu
| ton fer which closed to-day. He was aoou
10 land at the spot agreed on for the star
! or the big event The wind was al MI
hack at the time and although II Is usua
| for aviators TO land against the wind ah(
/ is considered much safer 10 do So Molsdh
! had often landed with the wind at III
| hacl, when II blew stronger than It wa
bIowing to-day The accident cannot b'
! tbus entirely attributed 10 this fact, al
| though II had its share in determining 1t
Also. Moisant was driving machine othe
! than his own.
,,,loisant had made two laps Of the cours
in his preliminary trial, and approache'
| the landing space for the third time at a
| altitude of about 200 feet. He appeared U
delav coming down until within 200 or 80
/ feet Of the designated spot. and then mad
a. very sharp dip. When about ln Zee
from the ground he stopped his motor an
would no doubt have landed without mis-
hap, notwithstanding his comparative ur
familiarity with the machine and the un
usual conditions of equilibrium brough
about in it by the addition Of a large tank
but at that instant strong gust Of win
struck under the tail of the craft an
lifted it up. The angle OF descent, instea
Of diminishing. was thus suddenly Increase
! 10 an almost vertical drop, and the groun
| uas foo near for recovery
Pivoted Around GasoIene Tank.
THE monoplsne at that moment ap
peared 10 pivot around the big tank place
| between the wheels and struck the groun'
on its propeller. smashing il beyond re
pair. II was not. however, the conclusion
which hurled Moisant cut Of his seat, tn
| terrific angle at which the machine dc
| sscended i'm the last few moments IN itsel
being sufficient for this. | plainly sav
Mosant shot out of his seat as II iron
a catapult before any part Of the macAin
touched the earth. The machine fell s.
straight that IL remained exactly where
fell, having only sufficient horizontal mo
ton TO turn II over, and leaving no mark
| in the ground, except where the propelle
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