The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-20
Birdnlan Makes Sensational
Dip TO Startle Thousands
in Spectacular Flight.
FAILS TO RISE AGAIN
Before Making tlleAscent Vic
tim Had Prenlonition of
Coming Disaster,

"A EACON. Ga. Oct. l9-Eugene
~ III Ely. aviator, met Death at the
N state air.groupds this afternoon
when bis machine failed to rise
from \ sensational dip and plunged
with him fifty feet TO the ground, lie
fell in the field of the race track, after
almost clearing the machine by a DIES
peratc leap when he realized his peril
Bones were broken in score 'of places.
Ely died few minutes htcr, regain.
iug consciousness Just before the end
long enough 10 mutter: H
. ~ lost contr0l-I know am gong
r.lv made Aight this morning, as
ccnding 5lUO feet.
At 2:45 O'Clock he began bis second
flight, rising gracefully from the track
inclosure. which he circled tst the rate
of thirty miles an hour. As he was
completing The circuit he made dip.
seemingly to startlo the thousands be-
meath him. $,
The machine shot down with trcmen-
dous velocity and the crowd lapplanded,
thinking the aviator would rise, as he
had done many times before.
Loses Grip on the Lever.
But Ely seemed to lose his grip on
the lever and the machine continued
It's downward plunge Hc attempted 10
rise from his seat.
Losing the lever altogether. he half
Jumped, barely clearing the aeroplane
as IT, crashed to the ground. lhc ma
chine was demolished and Ely struck
with terrific force. lie died shortly AT
ter reaching the hospital.
Elv, n native Of, Iowa, left his wife
in New York two weeks ago 'to come to
Macon TO give series of, flights for
the state fair. He had +been giving
spectacular flights here for eight days,
going up on. ono occasion IN n rain
ST torn.
Today Elv offered TO make slight by
night, painting his craft wit9 phoss,
phorus. $50 as to startle tho natIycs,
| he told the fair directors. .
! The offer was declined because he
wanted $1,000.
Before making ms ascent this after.
noon. Ely told his attendants be feared
something would happen.
Elv was the first man TO ahght on
| the deck of warship with an aero
plane. During an aviation meet IN san
| Mateo county, California, Ely lin Il bj
| plane few from the aviation camp TO
San Francisco about twenty miles. and
aliphted on The deck of the cruiser
| PENNSYLVANIA. anchored in San Fran
cisco bav. After holding a reception on
board the warship Ely flew from the
vessel back to the aviation camp,
| Previous to this time Ely had made
flight from the deck of q warship an
| chorcd in Chesapeake buy. although
he struck the water as he left the ship
he managed To reach shore. Ely for
| merly was engaged as an autom obile
| salesman in San Francisco. He became
prominent az an aviator about two
! years ago.
Expected TO Be Killed.
! DAVENPORT. Ia. Oct. 19,-N, D..
Ely, father of Eugene Ely, the aviator
| killed mt Macon, Ga, TODAY ieft for
thr Georgia city Iute this afternoon 10
bring back tho body of his son for
! burial
The aviator made exhibition fights
| in this city about two weeks AGO, On
! one trim ho took Mrs. Ely with him
and while in the air they were forced
TO descend An examination disclosed
! that four of the five bolts IN one Of the
propelers of the machine had been
Ely, during bis flightsihere, was asked
uy one of his former friends and neigh
tors how long he expected TO remain in
the flying business
s.Oh. I'll do like the rest of them
keep it up until / ann killed, was the
reply.
Ely was a chauffeur until he learned
| to fly out In California several, wears
ago. He was born at Williamsburg
near here, about twenty seven Ss1s
| ago. HytD