The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-04-04
CAL P. ROGERS
AVIATOR KILLED
Crushed Beneath His Biplane He Died
Almost lnstantly-Dsath Had
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 a height of
two hundred feet and buried him in
she wreck His neck was broken and
his body badly smashed by the en-
CINE He ived but few moments.
Rodgers COR week had been maxi
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 a 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 ua-
til he had reached height of about
200 feet. Making a short turn he
started at full speed for the pier, then
suddenly dippeo 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
hi. lachine to level position.
Failing in this he managed to turn
b., craft further III shore, and an in
slant 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 lis oeean-to-ocean'
flight. Many men rushed to his aid.
Ernest Scott and James Goorwin, life
guards, were first to reach him. They
said Rodgers head was hanging over
one 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 aviator's
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 Roo
gers. Z. S. NJ, now is attached TO the
aeroplane section of the navy, sta
toned at San Diego.
Charles Shaffer, close friend Of
Rodgers and who came here on the
special train that followed the avia-
tor on his trans-continental trip, wit
messed the accident.
In speaking of Rodgers care-free
spirit while in the air Mr. Shaffer
said he ha taken many fights with
Rodgers. but the most surprising ex-
ample of recklessness lie had ever
seen was yesterday
1--WE had risen to height Of about
5000 feet said Snaffer, "and We're
off to the northeast. The wind was
strong, but not puffy. Rodgers feign-
ing he was tired, lay back, folded his
hA ds behind his head and streached
out 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
tight; she's ridden the wind before,
and she'll ride it now"