The Detroit times., 1911-06-19
TRAGEDY
SADDENS FRANCE
Two Pilots Are Burned To Death
While Flying and Third Crashes
Into a Tree.

PARIS, June ls-Aviation experts
agreed today that aeroplaning, purely
as sport, received a terrible blow In
the fatalities and Wholesale accidents
that marked the start yesterday OF
the big race to Belgium. Holland. Lon
don and return, This 10 the second
time within a month that fatality has
marked the beginning OF aeroplane
races, the first costing the life OF
Minister OF War Berteaux. A general
demand Is now being made that such
races be abandoned.
Hubert Latham, one OF the pioneers
of the sport In France and who has
figured In many notable aviation
events and has had his share OF es-
capes, declared today that these races
can add nothing to the real science OF
aviation and are responsible for a
death list that Is growing now more
rapidly than ever, whereas II should
show proportionate decrease.
The fact that the last two big races
have turned into tragedies at their
outset" Latham said, may be due to
nervousness that seizes upon the await
ors In the presence Of half q million
crowding, cheering spectators. After
the start of the race the prizes are SO
big and the competition 80 keen that
the contestants take chances that are
foolhardy. Many come to grief.
Aviation is here to stay. II Ia one
of the most important scientific devel-
opments OF recent years, but as a
sport think II is at present too dan
gerous and should be restricted"
or the Ave flyers injured yesterday,
all are reported today as recovering
except Lieut.. Gaubert, whose machine
fell with him near villars- Coterets. lie
suffered severe internal injuries be-
sides arm and leg fractures. Bile.
Loridan, Morrison and NORM all fell,
but none sustained serious injury.
A public funeral is planned for the
three victims of the race, Capt. Prince
teau, M. lie Martin and M. Lendron.
The death of -LeMartin Is considered
O distinct loss TO aviation, as he was
one OF the best flyers In France and
the leading pupil Of Bleriot. His ma
chine crashed into tree q few min
utes after the start OF the race. The
aeroplane was broken In two and the
motor btTuCk LeMhitih III NhS hCoo,
crushing his skull.
Capt. Princeteau and NJ. Lendron
were both burned to death by the ex-
plosion of their motors. Princeteau
was really killed before starting IN
the race He was at Issy Les Molin-
eaux and jumped into his machine TO
fly to the starting ground and within
few minutes the gasoline tank blew
I'D. Princeteau was strapped to his
seat and fell with his machine, a
mass Of flames.
The total death toll from the aero
planes is 64. the fatalities beginning
with the death OF Lieut.. Selfridge at
Fort Myer, Va, Sept. II, 1908. Twen-
ty-slx Of the deaths have occurred this
year.
LIEGE, Belgium, June 19.-Sixteen
OF the 4S aviators who started from
the vincentes military grounds. Sun
day. in the Inflated -Four Nations"
race, have arrived at Liege, 212 miles
Nine OF these 16 arrived today from
Rheims. They were Kimmerling,
Tabeteau, Provost. wynmalen. Amer
go, Bathiat, Gilbert, Verrept and lie
Lasseur. arriving in the order named.
Those who arrived last evening
were vidart, vedrine. weymann. the
American; Beaumont, whose rea
name Is Conneau; Barra, Duval and
Garros.
The second stage OF the race will
be to Utrecht, Holland.