Fergus County Democrat., 1912-04-09
AVIATION LAYS CLAIM
TO ANOTHER VICTIM
6. P. ROGERS, WHO FLEW ACROSS
CONTINENT, KILLED At LONG
BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

Long Beach, CAL, April 3.-Calbraith
+. Hodgers, an aviator of worldwide
tame, and the first man to cross the
American continent In an aeroplane,
was almost instantly killed here this
afternoon, when his Wright biplane,
IN which he was soaring over the
ocean, crashed to earth from height
OF 200 feet and buried him in the
wreckage. His neck was broken and
his body crushed by the engine of his
machine. He lived but a few minutes.
Rodgers had been making daily
hlgnts here for week, and had taken
many passengers, both men and WON.
en-, up with him. He started today
from his usual place and scared out
over the ocean, crossing the pier, and
then turned and dipped close to the
roller coaster.
Seeing flock of gulls disporting
themselves among great school Of
sardlnes just over the breakers,
Rodgers again turned and dived down
Into them, scattering the feathered sea
fowl IN all directions. Highly elated
with the outcome of his dive, Rodgers
heW farther out to sea, gradually ris.
Ing, until he had reached height Of
about 200 feet. Making a short turn,
he started full speed for the pier, then
suddenly dipped his planes and his
machine began frightful descent.
Rodgers was seen by hundreds Of
persons on the pier to relax his hold
on the levers, and then, seemingly rea-
lizing his danger, he made strenuous
efforts to pull the nose of his ma
chine into level position. Failing in
this, he managed to turn his craft
farther inshore and an instant later
the huge craft crashed into the edge
OF the surf, not 800 teet IRON the spot
where on december 10, last, he had
hMshed his ocean-lO-Ocean flight.
Lille guards were the first to reach
the injured man. They said Rodgers
head was hanging over one wing ,f
the machine, the heavy engine on his
back and his 1eet drawn up, nearly
doubling over his shoulders. Blood
was blowing from his mouth.
Rodgers was hurried to the bath
house hospital, where DR.. A. w. Bell
pronounced him dead.
From hurried examination it was
determined that Rodgers neck, Jaw
bone and back had been broken. A
Telegram was sent at once to the
aviatOr's widow, who resides in Pasa
dena, and a cablegram to his mother
Mrs. H. S. Schweitzer, now In Lon
don. The body was sent to Pasadena
tonight.
, The machine that Rodgers used to
day was the one with which he WOr
, $1,000 in prizes last July at the Chi
cagO endurance meet. 1t is q tota
wreck.
, Rodgers cousin, Lieutenant Johl
Rodgers. u. s. NJ, Is now attached t.
the aerOplane section of the navy
} stationed at San Diego.
Chas. Shaffer, close friend n
: Rodgers, and who came here on the
special train that followed the aviator
on his transcOntinental trip, witnessed
the accident.
, In speaking of Rodgers career al
an aviator, Mr.. Shaffer, who haC
taken many flights with Rodgers, sait
the worst example of carelessness HI
: had ever seen was while flying will
Rodgers yesterday.
1--WE had risen to height Of abou
500 feet" said Shaffer, Rodgers
feigning WEAKNESS, laid back, folded
his hands behind his head ant
stretched out his feet, seemingly en-
joying the scenery. said to him
: You better watch out, Cal, the wint
might get you,' but he answered: oh
: were all right; she's ridden the wint
| before land she'll ride 1t now.'"