New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-08
Well Known Anglo
Aviator and Passenger Fall
300 Feet to Death.
AT ALDERSH0T, ENGLAND
His Two Sons Eyewitnesses of
the Tragedy-Craft Appar-
emily Too Heavy for
It's Wings.

plane accident at Aldershot to-day. Cody
was trying out a new aeropane with a
passenger named Evans when he met his
death
They were flying at an altitude OF be-
tween 800 and coo feet over the open
country. most OF which is government
land i'm the Aldershet district. and had
Just reached Government House. when
their aeroplsne was seen 10 be travelling
badly and finally to fall with a crash TO
the ground Some people rushed To the
spot. and found the dead bodies OF Cody
and Evans lying among the ruins OF the
aeroplane.
Cody's neck was broken and both 81
Evans's legs were fractured in the fall.
and their bodies otherwise were badly
mangled. Members OF the Royal Flying
Corps removed the bodies 10 the military
tomorrow.
Cody's CONS. Leon and Frank. were
evewitnesses OF the accident. which was
attributed by spectators to the body OF
the craft proving too heavy for the
wings The machine they say. appeared
70 crumple up. the wings suddenly
shooting upward and the whole struct-
ure collapslng. During the descent the
aeroplane struck some trees. and por-
lions Of the wings were left hanging on
the branches. The motor was shattered
and the remainder OF the aeroplane
smashed into matchwood on the ground
The aeroplane had been out earlier In
the day. making an extended fight and
giving every satisfaction.
The Secretary OF State FOR war. in
tel.graphing his condolences to Mrs
Cody on the death Of her husband. said
THE science Of aeronautics owes much
TO his mechanical genius and coura.
geous perseverance, The British War
once has special reason 10 mourn the
loss Of his valuable services. both In re-
gard 10 man-lifting kites and 70 his
contributions to military aeronautics.
str Hiram Maxim. when he heard OF
Cooy's death to-day. characterized hin
as undoubtedly she greatest military
nvisf tor in England Almost simulta-
neously with his victory - .he War
ONCE competition IN 1912. when he won
a prize OF $4,000. he was awarded s-b.
GOO in an arbitration case with th'
War once m respect TO the rights OF hl'
invention Of man-carrying kites.
Evans was a member OF the Indian
civil Service. who had obtained leave OF
absence 20 come TO England 20 study
aviation.
=. s Cody. who was known a.
colonel" was born in America. but be-
came q naturalized citizen OF Great
Britain in 1879 10 retain his place In the
british War ONCE He had no rank IN
the British army. but In 1912 King George
confusing him with buffalo BIZ" ad-
sre,s.d him as colonel In a message
OF congratulation. and Cody after that
insisted on the title
Cody held the worlds record for cross
country fying for a time, establishing
his precedence at Aldershot IN September
1909 He met with many accidents ana
In Iune. 1910. vas seriously hurt by
fall
Cody was sued by farmer In Farnhan
IN November OF last year for the death
NJ a COW that was killed by one OF Cody
aeronlanes Cody's defence was that the
coy had committed suicide by rushing
=, IN. living machine as IT allgh,ed. but
ne lost his case and paid the farmer the
damages asked
CODY was one OF the most interesting
figures I'm aviation. lie was rear soldier
~ fortune. with a varied career pehlho
ht,r He WAS well known 10 the PUBIC
IN England. as he attracted general at
tention by his peculiar makeup. ne
u ore n sombrero. a long mustache ana
an ,muerial. with long hair and looAeu
a,,,os, s.sc,ly like Buffalo BIZ.
uoen he arrived In England years ago
., m the United States. where he mad
been a cowboy In the West |ouy hau
severe struggle TO obtain start. Ai'e'
,,,,g precariously for awhile ne at
,rac,ed the attention OF British war VI
a.. .,,.r,s on account OF his display 81
,,raI gifts of construction. particularly
in aerial machines ,.,.
codv's first experiments were mace VIII"
30, kites. These he developed on inc
pr,,ish military training grounds al Al
sarsho, where thirty thousand OF the
g., ,roops In the British army are al
- Lant I'm readiness TO march at mo-
rpent's notice on hhs
achieved such success with MS Kites 'h"'
,hs British War Office attached MIN 10
It's aviation stan.
ttis theatrical appearance and methods
created some prejudice against MIN
which however. was largely dispeHeo
uhen he forswore his American ale
glance and became British subject The
nublic in England began to take him seri'
ousIv only when he carried OF the mill
,erv prize OF 5000. open TO the world az
salisbury Plain in August last year.
since that time he had built several
machines and was constantly expert
menting with improvements. All OF ms
seroulanes were heavy biplanes, "hien
his rivals considered crude In their con
s,ructIon. but he nevertheless made sue
cessful flights with some OF them.
The machine used by Cody at the um'
NJ ,o-day's accident was new hydro
aeronlane which he was tuning CUP for th'
sor,hcomlng race around England ane
ScotIand i'm which ii prize OF Vow Is Oh
fered The machine weighed more IMAM
,on II WAS fitted with motor OF ~
horsepower and had WING span oi "
feet