New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-17
CHICAGO DAY Of THRILLS
Aviation Meet Fills 0nIOokerS
with Excitement.
MARROW ESCAPES STARTlE
Several Bird Men Fear for Their
Lives - tombstone, Sr.,
Sends Protest.

Chicago, Aug. 16.-Arthur Stone. driver OF
Queen monoplane, was snatched pack
from death at the international aviation
meet here to-day after hopes for his lie
had been given up.
Howard GIL. in a baby Wright came
almost as close to death, but escaped I'M
hurt from under the wreck Of his machine.
Lincoln Beachey after being driven far
to the south and lighting his way back
above the field. glided 1900 feet In safety
TO the earth after his engine had stopped
suddenly.
James Ward had an equally hard task TO
make his way from far out over Lake
Michigan, but descended safely in the field.
Stones machine fe,l into the lake just at
dusk. he leaped from the falling plane
and was rescued. at the point of oxhaus-
ton, by a motor boat after he had sup
ported himself in the water for more than
half an hour. His machine was not re-
covered.
That Stone was rescued was attributed
largely to the insistence Of his wife that
he guard himself with a life preserver. In
spite Of the order that all flyers should
wear life preseryers Stone. with others.
started for their machines unguarded. Mrs.
Stone ran from the hangar. just before the
flight and insisted that her husband wait
while she tied an inflated automobile tire
about his shoulders
Unnerved by the deaths yesterday of
William r. Badger and st. Croix john
stone and deferred by a high wind, many
of the flyers here protested against going
UP and warned the contest committee that
the aeroplanes could not be controlled in
the half gale that prevailed in the upper
air
The Judges were insistent, and finally
half a dozen flyers rose for 'cross-water
race from the shore around the Carter ii.
Harrison crib three and a half miles out.
Thomas Sopwth had completed the sec
end lap Of the race and been declared win
ner. when q cry arose that Stones ma
chine had fallen into the water and that
the aviator was drowned. Later. it was re-
ported that Stone was afoat. and then ru-
mored that a tug was bringing his body 10
shore. None of these reports could he veri-
fed, and Stones fate was unknown until
Commodore James Pugh's motor boat. the
Disturber II, reached the Chicago Yacht
Clubs landing with Stone alive and well.
Stone Reported Drowned.
Reports that Stone had been drowned
were flashed to the hangers Almost the
first to hear of his disappearance was his
wife. Mrs. Irene Stone. who. with her
baby. awaited Stones return from the race
far over the lake.
Then Robinson. hydroplane pilot of the
Curtiss team darted I'm and said that he
had been unable to find any trace Of the
missing aviator
At this Mrs. stone began to weep. She
turned over the child TO friend.
Here. take the baby" she exclaimed.
I'm going out TO. the lake to help find
Arthur"
AS Mrs Stone darted out from a group
Of friends, who sought TO have her return
to the hotel. an automobile came I'm from
the lake front and assured Mrs. Stone that
her husband had been picked up alive and
had been merely the victim Of a ducking.
I'm mighty glad I made Arthur put on
that life preserver,' Mrs Stone exclaimed.
her tears quickly drying I'm sure it
saved his life"
Howard Gill. OF the Wright team, prom
ised the first feature OF 4 Roman holiday
when his machine, suddenly checked as il
skinned over the ground after a perfect
landing. toppled over with terrific force.
gill was pinioned for an instant 'twixt the
tangled wires and the taut canvas of the
baby Wright Before startled spectators
had reached him he dug himself from the
ruins.
The first man to the wreck grasped Gins
hard.
I'VE thought you were killed" exclaimed
the spectator.
NO. I'm not even hurt" replied Gill. |
digging the dirt from his eyes, but look
at this machine it's a wreck
CHI really had a narrow escape lie
probably owes his life TO the new feature
Of construction employed IN the baby
Wright biplane. The engine. instead Of
resting In the rear of the aviator's seat Is |
fixed to one side
Gil had made perfect landing and was
Swimming over the turf at a forty-mile-an-
hour speed. The wheels Of his machine
struck "A rut The skid support snapped
and the machine toppled over headfore-
most The Wright mechanics expressed
doubt as to the chance OF repairing dam
ages 10 the baby" before the end OF the
meet