Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-20
The Fate of Eugene Ely.

What seems to be the inevitable
fate, sooner or later. OF every man
who goes into the air to defy the laws
of gravitation, has overcome the To-
cal aviator. Eugene Ely. The sad
ending of EIy's young life is, there
fore. but another penalty paid for the
attempted mastery of the most won
derful of sciences. And Ely was re-
garded as one of the most cautious
Of aviators the world has known, his
performances being noted for their
deliberate accuracy and freedom from
spectacular effect. The sensational
dip, which yesterday resulted in his
death, was seldom undertaken by
him. Indeed, il seemed to be Ely's
aim 20 demonstrate the practical ad-
vantages of the aeropIane when care
fully handled. He earnestly believed
that with intelligent manipulation
and care man was as safe in the air
as on the ground. He thought the
time would come when aerial naviga-
ton would become as general as the
railroad train or the steamship. but
held that the same caution should be
Ia hEH III the ODSIdAIOu VI the dlISulD
as the railroad train or ocean going
vessel. Accidents are always likely
where Carelessness occurs was his
theory. His own devotion to his art
was therefore in every way laudabIe
He was a student of a science in its
earliest stages He hoped TO some
day see ii perfected and was willing
to contribute his part to that develop
ment.
And yet in view of this understand /
ing OF Ely's ideas gained from con-
versation with him in The Argus of /
fee when he was in Rock Island a
year ago. together with the impress /
sion which every one had of him
at first meeting. that he was courag- /
eous and absolutely unmoved by fear
or dread, there were two circum- /
stances in connection with his fatal
flight at Macon yesterday that seem .
strangely at variance with all that
has entered into the making of his
career. One was his foreboding
in this particular instance just
before starting on his last
trip, when he wrote his wifes .
address and gave it to his assistant
for use in the event of anything hap
pening TO him, and the other the
spectacular dip that plunged him to
eternity.
Ely. when asked in Rock Island .
what in the world he would do if any
thing happened when he was in the
air, replied promptly there is nothing
going TO happen" and when asked at
another time if he enjoyed the sen
sational features OF aeroplane flying. !
responded Yes. they give you a thrill
that is indescribable, and with proper
care they are not so dangerous, but
have cut them out TO a large extent.
They are non-essential to the demon
stration that a man can fly in the air,
so what's the use? The more man
risks his life the more the people like
it, of course, and man in this bust
ness is either a hero or a coward all
the time, but all that does nct in
fuence me. I am a demonstrator of
an achievement which may some day
be put to practical use and that is
my main object"
When in Rock Island where Ely
father and sister saw him fly for the
first time. his father, it is understood,
offered him $4,000 if he would cease
at once and turn his talents
In other lines, but the boy refused
It was his calling he said, and for
that calling as he saw it he has given
his life.
Who will say that Eugene Ely was
not a hero?