Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04
Harriet Quimby and Manager
Willard of Boston Meet
Fall 1000 Feet.
Wind UPSET her MONOPLANE
Bodies Hurled from Chassis and
Land in Shallow Water at
the Edge of Dorches.
ter Bay.

Boston. July Miss Harriet Quinn
by of New York. the first woman to win
an aviator's license in America and tn ,
first woman to cross the English chan
mel in an aeroplane, was instantly kill
ed with her passenger w. A. =. Will
lard. manager of the Boston aviation
meet at Atlantic tonight, when her
Bleriot monoplane fell into Dorchester
bay from a height of a thousand feet.
The accident happened when MISS
Quimby. with willard for a passenger,
was returning from trip over Boston
harbor to Boston light and back. dis
tance of 20 miles in all. The fight was
made in 20 minutes. The Bleriot. of
the latest model of military mono-
planes, crcled the aviation fell ana
scared out over the Savin Hill Yacht
club. just outside the aviation grounds.
Heading back into the eght-mile gust
of wind. Miss Quimby started a volplane.
The angle was too sharp and one Of the
gusts caught the tail of the monoplane.
throwing the machine UP perpendicular.
For an instant 1t poised there. Then.
sharply outlined against the setting sun.
Wizards body was thrown clear OF the
lOAoWeu liiiit'idlSiy w
Miss Qumby's body in her dark aviation
suit.
STRUCK IN SHALLOW WATER.
Hurting over and over, the two bodies
shot downward. striking the water 20
feet from shore. They splashed out of sight
" second before the monoplone plunged
Gown 10 feet away. 1t was low tide and
the water was only five feet deep. Men
from the yacht club in motor boats were
on the spot quickly and leap.ng overheard
hauled the two bodies out of the mud into
which they had sunk. Death was prob
bbly instantaneous. Both bodies were
badly crushed. Several Of Miss Quimbys
bones were broken and there were many
large bruises.
Willard who weighed 1870 pounds hit the
water face first and over one eye there
was a cash from which the blood was
flowing. He, too, had several fractures
and bruises. The clothing of both fiers
was torn and the bodies were so covered
with mud that 1t was several minutes be-
fore the doctors and nurses could grasp
the full extent Of the injuries
When the victims were brought ashore
in motor boats they We're laid out on the
ground at Squantum head on the edge of
the aviation field. The crowd which had
been witnessing the flights rushed over.
but troop Of State cavalry was ahead OF
the spectators and held the people back
while Dr. George Sheahan. the field sur
geon, with his staff and a male and female
nurse made hasty examinations Of the
bodies. In a few moments ambulances
arrived and the victims were taken to the
Quincy hospital
MISS SCOTT LOSES NERVE.
Flying high over head at the time Of
.ne fall was Miss Blanche Stuart Scott,
another aviatrice taking part in the meet
which had entered upon Its second day.
From her high altitude Miss Scott had
watched Miss Qumby's splendid flight
and was near by when the gust upset
the monoplane In the excitement of the
moment no one noticed the lone aviatrice,
but when Miss Quimby's body was
bi ought ashore all eyes were directed
aloft and Miss Scott was seen making
sweeping circles over the field at height
OF about 800 feet. Twice she started TO
descend but each time she was seen to
ialter. In another moment. summoning
All her nerve she turned the nose Of her
machine downward and landed safely,
collapsng in her seat before any one
could reach her. a. Leo Stevens Of New
Work, manager for Miss Quimby. and Miss
CLimby's friend, Mrs. Helen Vanderbilt
who were both witnesses of the accident
were Frustrated
Before going UP on their last fight.
Miss Quimby ana Mr.. Winari were
talking and laughing with their
friends. Willard making Jokes about
his weight and Miss Quimby talking
confidently about her plans to make
an altitude record in the future that
would stand as womans high mark
In crossing the English channel on
April 16 Miss Quimby flew at an alti-
tude of 5000 feet. which was believed
20 be the record for women Miss
Qnimby to-day sail she felt sure she
rould excel the record of 13,943 feet
set by Garros.
LAST WORDS OF MISS DUMMY.
Discussing the matter Of coming
down In the water. II the engine should
fail on the flight over the harhor, Miss
Quimby sai1 to a friend just before she
left the ground "a water landing II
all right in a Bleriot unless you come
down head first. In that case. thu
heavy motor at the extreme forward
end OF the machine would drag thu
monoplane, drop into the water an'
sink 1t. But If we come down pan
icky' the broad winds would float Vi
for two hours or more"
Then, with a bright smile. she mad
this significant remark: But ! am
cat and I don't like cold water" Thes
were among the last words Miss Quimb
said before leaving the starting line o
her last flight
The monoplane painted a pure white
darted at great speed over the harbol
The motors developed speed at time
Of from rs to 100 miles an hour. A
examination of the aneroid baromete
after the fall showed that all times tn
daring pilot had darted to a height @
b000 feet, On the return the machin
was seen to wobble In the gusty breez
and the setting for the last act for tn
disaster could not have been NOR
dramatic II was sun set The grea
white wings, swept directly into the Yves
and dipped towards the earth. There wa
nn upward flash of the tail and. out
lined before the spectators In the re
light of the west. the bodies were seen I
shoot from their seats into tho bay, 1.O(
AnaA hoinm