The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-04-05
CAL P. ROGERS
AVIATOR KILLED
Crushed Beneath His 6iplane He Died
Almost lnstanty-Death Had
Been Near Before.

Been Near Before.
Long Beach, Cal. April 4,-Cal-
braith P. Rodgers. the first man to
cross the American continent in AN
aeroplane, was killed here almost in
stantly late yesterday when his BIZ
plane in which he had been soaring
over the ocean, fell from height of
two hundred feet and buried him in
the wreck His neck was broken and
his body badly smashed by the en-
gine He lived but few moments.
Rodgers for a week had been MAX
ing daily flights here, and had taken
up with him many passengers, both
men and women Yesterday he start
ed from his usual place and scared out
over the ocean, crossing the pier and
then turned and dipped close to a
roller coaster in beach amusement
park.
Seeing flock of gulls disporting
themselves among a great shoal of
sardines just over the breakers, Rod
gers again turned and dived down
into them, scattering the seat fowl in
all directions.
Highly elated with the outcome of
his dive he then flew further out to
sea, all the time gradually rising UNI
til he had reached height Of about
200 feet. Making a short turn he
started at full speed for the pier, then
suddenly dippeu his planes and his
machine began a frightful descent.
Rodgers was seen by hundreds Of per-
sons on the pier to relax his hold on
the levers and then seemingly realiz-
ing that he was in danger, he made
strenuous efforts to pull the nose of
his machine to level position.
Failing in this he managed to turn
his craft further in shore, and an in
stant later the craft crashed into the
edge of the surf, not five hundred feet
from the spot where, on December 10
last, he had finished his ocean-to-ocean
fight. Many men rushed to his aid.
Ernest Scott and James Goorwin, life
guards, We're first to reach him. They
said Rodgers head was hanging over
cne wing of the machine. the heavy en-
gine was on his back ane his feet were
drawn up, nearly doubling over his
shoulder.
Rodgers was lifted from the wreck
end hurried to the bath house hos
pital. He died on the way.
Examination showed that his neck,
jawbone and back had been broken.
A telegram was sent to the aviators
widow, who lives in Pasadena, Cal,
and cablegram to his mother, Mrs
H. S. Schweitzer, who is now in Lon
don. The body was prepared for bur
ial and sent to Pasadena last night
Rodgers cousin, Lieut.. John Rod
gers. II. s. n, now is attached TO the
/ deICpldue StCllOH Ol tiiS navy oi"-
toned at San Diego.
| Charles Shaffer, a close friend Of
Rodgers and who came here on the
special train that followed the ayia-
tor on his trans-continental trip, wit
messed the accident
In speaking of Rodgers eare-free
spirit while in the air, Mr. Shaffer
said he had taken many fights with
Rodgers. but the most surprising ex-
ample Of recklessness he had ever
seen was yesterday.
we had risen 10 height of abaut
$4,000 feet, said Shaffer, "and We're
off to the northeast The wind was
strong, but not puffy Rodgers feign-
ing he was tired, lay back, folded his
hands behind his head and streached
ont his feet, seemingly enjoying the
scenery. | said to him, You better
watch out, Cal. the wind might get
you, but he answered. oh. we're all
right: she's ridden the wind before
and she'll ride it now"