Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-03
MOISSANT HURLED
TO DEATH AS FROM
GIANT CATAPULT
Continued from Page 0ne)

the machines Of the team to make his
trial for the Mechelin cup. The primary
reason for this change being that 1t car
ried the most effective motor at this time
and that it was most likely to keep
going through the long hours necessary
for a successful attempt.
yesterday Moissant had placed be-
tween the landing wheels of this ma
chine very large projectiIe-shaped gas
oline tank In which to carry the fuel
necessary for the long flight This tank
was only partly filled this morning before
MOissant left the city park track, the
arrangement being that he was to land
at the place where he met his death and
have his tanks filled at that spot. SO as to
start with a larger quantity of gasoline
and lubricant In the cup confess.
WAS 300 FEET HIGH.
ssAfoissant had made two laps OF the
course in his preliminary trial ana APP
preached the landing space for the third
time at an altitude of about 200 feet. He
appeared to delay coming down until
within 200 or 300 feet Of the designed spot
and then made an extremely sharp dip.
When about 30 feet from the ground he
stopped his motor and would no doubt
have landed without mishap, notwith-
standing his comparative unfamiliarity
with the machine and the unusual con-
ditions OF equilibrium brought about in
it by the addition OF the large tank. had
not at that instant q strong gust of wind
struck under the tail Of the craft and
lifted It up.
"The angle of descent. instead Of d.
minishing, was thus suddenly increased
to an almost vertical drop and the ground
was too near for recovery. The mono
plane at that moment appeared to pivot
around the big tank placid between the
wheels and struck the ground on its
propeller. smashing 1t beyond repair. 1t
was not, however, the concussion which
hurled MoissaIit out OF his seat, the ter
rifle angle at which the machine descend
ed In the last few moments in itself being
HURLED FROM SEAT.
1T plainly saw Moissant being projected
out of his seat as II from a catapault
Before any part Of the machine touched
the earth. The machine fell so straight
that 1t remained exactly where it fell.
having only SUFFICIENT horizontal motion
to turn 1t over and leaving no marks In
the ground where the propeller struck.
Moissant. however. landed So feet from
the seat of his machine and 1t is my
impression that he was instantly killed,
although facial refiexes seemed to give an
indication of life for some minutes.
"In my opinion. the accident was caus-
ed by the combination of circumstances
have just spoken Of. The originally
sharp incline of descent, the early stop
page OF the moter followed by the gust
OF wind and especially the change in the
equilibrium of the machine and the low
ering of its center of gravity by the adj
dition of the large tank, half empty
though 1t was.
LOSS TO COUNTRY.
I'm the death of John Moissant not only
his country but the whole world lost a
man destined to prominence IN the de-
velopment Of the new art. He was a
great believer in the future of aviation
and designer and builder Of machines
himself and not merely a. aeroplane dri-
YER 1 was probably the only one among
a few witnesses of his death who also
Witnessed the achievement which sud-
denly brought him before the eyes of
the world. 1t was at the start Of the
great French cross-country event on the
circuit do LEST at Paris last August.
great crowds there that morning at each
successive start in the big event but the
most thrilling incident was the appear
anceA over the roof OF Paris Of an I'M
known monoplane which dropped out of
the sky in the starting enclosure. Two
unknown men stepped out of the machine
and introducing themselves were given
a point of vantage on which to see their
fellow-aviatcrs start in the big race. Or.
of them was John B. doissant. and the
other his today broken-hearted friend,
Roland Garros,"