The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-04
AVIATOR RODGERS
KILLED BY FALL
AT LONG BEACH
Daring Young Man Was Making
Dangerous Dip
LIVED But FEW MINUTES
caIbraith Perry Rodgers was 81 Years
Old and Married Miss Mabel
Graves Of Bennington

CalbraithoP Rodgers, the first man
to cross the American continent in
an aeroplane, was killed al eng
Beach, Cal, almost instantly late yes
terday, when his biplane in which
he had been soaring over the ocean
fell from a height of 200 feet and
buried him in the wreck. His neck
was broken and his body badly
smashed by the engine of his ma
chine He lived but few moments
Rodgers for a week past had been
making daily fights at Long Beach,
and had taken up with him many
passengers, both men and women.
Yesterday he started from his usual
place and scared out over the ocean,
crossing the pier, and then turned
and dipped close to roller coaster
in a beach amusement park.
Seeing a flock of gulls disporting
themselves among great shoal of
sardines just above the breakers,
Rodgers again turned and dived
down into them, scattering the sea
fowl in all directions Highly elat-
ed with the outcome of his dive, he
then flew out TO sea, all the time
gradually rising until he had reached
a height of about 200 feet Making
a short turn he started at full speed
for the pier, then suddenly inclined
his planes and his machine began a
frightful descent. He was seen by
hundreds of persons on the pier to re-
lax his hold on the levers and then,
seemingly realizing that he was In
danger, make a strenuous effort TO
pull the nose of his machine into a
level position
Failing in this, he managed to turn
his craft further in shore and an in
slant later the craft fell with a
crash at the edge Of the surf, not
500 feet from the spot where on De
cember 10 last. he finished his ocean
to ocean flight Many men rushed to
his aid. Ernest Scott and James
Goodwin. lifeguards. were first to
reach him They said Rodgers head
was hanging over one wing Of the
machine, the heavy engine was on
his back and his feet were drawn up
nearly double over his shoulders.
Blood was flowing from his mouth
Rodgers was lifted from the wreck
and hurried to the bath-house hospi
tai He died on the way.
Examination showed that his neck.
jawbone and back were broken A
telegram was sent to the ayiator's
widow. who lives in Pasadena, Cal
and a cablegram to his mother Mrs.
II. S. Schweltzer. who is now in Lon
don. The body was prepared for
burial and sent to Pasadena last
night. The machine that Rodgers
used yesterday was the one with
which he won $1,000 in prizes last
July at the Chicago endurance meet.
It is a total wreck, many parts hav-
ing been swept out 10 sea by the
tide. Rodgers cousin. Lieut. John
Rodgers. United States navy, is now
attached to the aeroplane section of
the navy. stationed at San Diego.
Charles Shafier a close friend OF
Rodgers. who went to Long Branch
on the special train which followed
the aviator on his transcontinental
trip. witnessed the accident Charles
Virgins OF Dayton. o., whom Rod
gers took to California to teach fly.
ing. stood on the pier and saw his
friend fall. In speaking OF Rodgers
care-free spirit while in the air, Mr.
Shafier said he had taken many
flights with Rodgers, but the most
surprising example Of recklessness
he had ever seen was Tuesday
we had risen to n hight Of about
5000 feet said Shaifer. "and were
OF to the northeast. The wind was
strong but not puffy Rodgers
feigning he was tired lay back, fold
ed his hands behind his head and
stretched out his feet, seemingly en-.
joylng 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 Il
now
Members OF the Aero club of Amer
lea at New York received the news ol
Rodgers death last night with eX
pressions OF profuond regret. He