New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-29
KILLED BY 70-F00T FALL
Ex- British Army officer Dies
After Accident at Hampstead.
tBy Telegraph 20 The Tribune

tBy Telegraph 20 The Tribune.l
Hampstead. Long Island. Sept. 2S.-
Captain John l.. Longstaff. former
British army officer. was killed this
evening while flying in a Farman BIZ
plane, and Pierre Chevalier, his me-
chanic, received injuries which may
prove .atal The machine was only
about seventy feet above the aviation
field when one Of the control wires evil
IDENTIFY became 'ammed. causing the
biplane to plunge with terrific speed
TO the earth. So great was the force
OF the impact that the forward section
Of the machine was buried two feet In
the ground, and nothing but mass Of
twisted wire and steel remained Of the
biplane.
Captain Longstaff's body was pin
toned among the tangled wires, and
these had to be cut away before the
aviator could be rescued from his posi-
ton. Chevalier was thrown clear Of
the machine. but landed on his head
and has conclusion of the brain and
internal injuries. Both men were
rushed to the Nassau Hospital, where
Captain Longstaff died at $40 o'clock
without recovering consciousness.
Long staff has been at the Hemp
stead Plains aviation field for several
weeks. and the daring manner in
which he pioted his big biplane about
the field has been commented upon by
the other aviators here. To-day he
made a number Of flights, seeming to
have his machine under perfect control.
He had arranged to take up A. 9.
PAYNE, Of the Montauk Hotel, Brook
lyn, this evening, and the latter was
on the ground in readiness.
Said Risk Was Too Grest.
At the last moment the aviator de-
cided to try out new propeller. and
although Payne was eager to accom-
pany him Captain Longstaff would not
consent, saying the risk was too great.
He selected Chevelier as his passenger,
because Of the latter's experience, and
when the mechanic had taken his seat
alongside the British aviator Captain
Iongstaff waved his hand to Payne and
called out:
eft will be your turn next, II nothing
happens before then"
Although he said this with smile OF
confidence, as he took hold OF the steer
ing wheel, Captain Longstaf evidently
had an intuition that something might
happen TO him.
while q couple Of assistants held the
binlane steady, Captain Longstaf turned
an the power In his motor and the ma
Sr,.a ,rembIed under the impetus Of
the new propeller. AT word from tne
oviator the assistants let go their hold
,ho machine, and the biplane shot
into the air.
Three times did Longstaff send the
b,s rarman around the course the ma
chin. making a weird picture as II
sl,nned swiftly through the air. WIN
the rays of the setting sun ginning
from the polished planes. Payne WHO
stood IN The centre OF the field. lost in
ADMIRATION of the aviator shni ,,. ana
daring. was just in the act Oh s,orv" -,
hts approval of Longstan hannened
the bplane when somethihs ""''
Aviator Kept His Head
Instead of sweeping on in its smooth
fight the biplane suddenly trempied IA
midair and then dashed to"aiu 'ns
earth. Longstaff did not lose MS heau'
and until the last kept trying TO WORK
his eievating planes to bring me ma
chine on an even keel. His manu- Voc
still on the elcvating lever Vhe"
hoav Was taken from the wreckage'