Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-07-02
WOMAN HURLED
THOUSAND FEET
Il. TO ID. DEATH i IN SEA
Miss Harriet Quimby and W. A. P
Willard, Passenger, e,
Both Killed. ;~
THE SCENE WAS THRILLING
Woman and Companion, in Full
Light Of Setting Sun, Fall
From Height.
THE SCENE WAS THRILLING


riet Quimby of New York, the frs,
woman to win an aviator's license il
America and the first woman tt
cross the English channel in an aer.
oplane, was instantly killed with
her passenger, w. A. P. Willard
manager of the Boston aviation
meet, at Atlantic last night, when
her Bleriot monoplane fell into
Dorchester bay from height Of a
thousand feet.
The accident occurred when Miss
,Quimby and Willard were returning
from a trip over Boston harbor tc
Boston Light, a distance of twenty
miles in all. The flight was made in
twenty minutes. The Bleriot, one OF
the latest models of military mono
planes, circled the field and scared
out over the Savin Hill Yacht club,
just outside the aviation grounds.
Heading back into the eight mile
wind, Miss Quimby started to vol
plane. The angle was too sharp,
and a gust caught the tail Of the
monoplane, throwing the machine
up perpendicular.
For an instant it poised there.
Then, sharply outlined against the
setting sun, Willard was thrown
clear of the chassis, followed almost
Immediately by Miss Quimby. Hurt
ling over and over the two figures
shot downward, striking the water
twenty feet from shore.
They splashed out Of sight Sec
ond before the monoplane plunged
down fifteen feet away.
1t was low tide and the water was
only Ave feet deep. Men in motor
boats were on the spot quickly and
1eaping overheard dragged the bod
les out of the mud into which they
had sunk. Death probably was in
Simultaneous.
Both bodies were badly crushed.
Several of Miss Quimby's bones were
broken and there We're many large
bruises. Willard, who weighed 100
pounds, hit the water first and over
one eye there was a cash from which
the blood was flowing. He, too, sus-
tanned several fractures and bruises.
The clothing of both fliers was torn
and the bodies were SO covered with
mud that it was several minutes be-
fore the doctors and nurses could de-
termine the full extent of the injur-
les. When the victims were brought
ashore in motor boats, the bodies
were laid on the ground on the edge
of the aviation field. The crowd
which had been witnessing the
flights rushed over, but troop of
state cavalry held the people back
while DR.. George Sheahan, the field
surgeon, with his staff and nurse
made hasty examination. In few
minutes ambulances arrived and the
victims were taken to the Quincy
hospital.
Flying high overhead at the time
OF the fall was Miss Blanche Stuart
Scott, another aviatrice taking part
in the meet. From her altitude Miss
Scott had watched Miss Quimby's
splendid flight and was nearby 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
brought ashore all eyes were direct
ed aloft and Miss Scott was seen
making sweeping circles over the
field at height of about 500 feet.
In another moment, summoning all
her nerve. she turned the nose of
her machine downward and landed
safely, collapsing in her seat before
any one could rush to her.
A. Leo Stevens of New York, man
ager for Miss Quimby and Miss
Quimby's friend, Mrs. Helen Wander
bilt, who were witnesses OF the ac-
ident, were Frustrated.
Before going UP on their last
flight, Miss Quimby and Mr. Willard
were talking and laughing with
friends.
In crossing the English channel
on ApriI 16- Miss Ouimby flew at an
altitude, of 5000 feet, which was be-
lieved to be the record for women
Miss Quimby yesterday said she felt
sure she could beat this mark, al
though she did not believe she could
excel the record Of 1S,s4S, set by
sarras.
Discussing the matter of coming