Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-02
MISS QUIMBY, AVIATOR,
DASHED TO HER DEATH
WITH w. A. P. WILLARD

BOSTON, July miss Harriet Quimby
of New York. the first woman to win an
aviator's license in America and the first
woman to cross the English channel in
an aeroplane. was instantly killed with
her passenger. w. A. P. Willard, manager
of the Boston aviation meet, at Atlantic
last evening, when her Bleriot monopane
fell into Dorchester bay from height OF
LOGO feet.
The accident occurred when Miss
Quimby and Willard We're returning from
trip over Boston harbor to Boston
light. distance OF twenty miles. The
flight was made in 10 minutes. The
Bleriot one of the latest models of mill
tary monoplanes circled the aviation
field and scared out over the Savin Hill
Yacht Club, just outside the aviation
grounds.
Heading back into the eight-mile gusty
wind, Miss Quimby started to volplane.
The angle was too sharp and one Of the
gusts caught the tail of the monoplane,
throwing the machine up perpendicularly.
Thrown Clear of Chassis.
For an instant 1t poised there. Then.
sharply outlined against the setting sun.
Willard was thrown clear of the chassis,
followed almost Immediately by Miss
Quimby. Hurting over and over, teh two
figures shot downward, striking the
water twenty feet from shore.
They splashed out of sight a second be-
fore the monoplane plunged down, fifteen
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. leaping overheard. dragged the
bodies out of the mud into which they
had sunk deeply Death was instan-
taneous.
Both bodies were frightfully crushed.
| Several of Miss Quimbys bones were
| broken. 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. sustained several frac-
lures and bruises. The clothing of both
| fiers was torn and the bodies were SO
covered with mud that 1t was several
minutes before the doctors and nurses
could determine the full extent of the
| injuries.
! 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 witness
ing the flights rushed over, but troop
of state cavary held the people back
While lJr. GEORGE SneaHdU, the uelu sur
geon with his staff and a nurse, made
hasty examinations.
In a few moments ambulances arrived,
and the victims were taken to the Quincy
Hospital
Miss Scott Aloft at Time.
Flying high overhead at the time of the
fall was Miss Blanche Stuart Scott. an
other aviatrice taking part in the meet,
which had entered upon its second day.
From her high altitude Miss Scott had
watched Miss Quimbys splendid flight,
and was nearby when the gust upset the
monopiane In the excitement Of the mo-
ment no one noticed the lone aviatrice.
but when Miss Quinlby's body was
brought ashore all eyes were directed
aloft and Miss Scott was seen making
sweeping circles over the field at q
height of about 500 feet
Twice she started to descend, but each
| ment, summoning all her nerve, she
| turned the nose of her machine down.
ward and landed safely, collapsing In her
seat before any one could reach her.
!, A. Leo Stevens of New York. manager
\ for Miss Quimby, and Miss Quimby 6
| friend, Mrs. Helen Vanderbilt who were
| both witnesses Of the accident. were pros
trated.
| Before going up on their LASH flight
| Miss Quinby and Mr. Willard wer& talk
! ing and laughing with their friendS Will
Miss Quinlby talking confidently about
her plans to make an alutN( record in
the future that would Sb6nd as WON.
ans nigh mark,