The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-17
SAW AVIATOR KILLED.
Charlottean a Witness ut Tragedy
Friday at Chesterfield.
Charlotte Observer.

FTIuaN AT SntSttfutlu.
Charlotte Observer.
Mr.. James Harris of this city was
an eyewitness Of the tragic death of
the aviator, Frank J. Terrell of
Worcester Mass, at Chesterfield, S.
c., on Friday, the Thirteenth
MIR Harris returned here yesterday.
THE accident occurred on the
last day of the Chesterfield county
fair, at which Mr.. Terrell had made
successful flight on the day be-
fore" said he. 1T occurred, too, In
plain view of between 1000 and
5000 spectators, including the avia-
tors young wife
About $50 o'clock when Terrell.
nee looking, clean-cut man Of 2S
years, was tinkering with his ma.
chine. heard his bride of few
months, aged about "a years, crying
and pleading with him not to fly. az
she had a premonition that misfor-
tune would attend such an attempt.
Fir Terrell merely laughed at her
fears however. and assured her con-
fidently that all would be well.
The atmospheric conditions ap-
peared favorable and the airman
said they were all tight. The wealth
er was clear and no winds were per-
ceptible. At $3.50 be climbed into
the Curtis biplane. which was evil
IDENTIFY a rather old machine, and was
Off
Under his guiding hand the ma
chine made a pretty ascension and
flew half a mile. Then il turned
gracefully and was returning to the
fair grounds when Mr. Terrell de-
cided to do some fancy flying. The
machine executed a dip without mis-
hap. Then another dip-and IL was
then that the accident occurred. The
strain was too much for the wires
and they snapped. Instantly with a
fearful crash the wings crumpled up
together and biplane and driver
dropped like shot 800 feet to she
earth below. Terrell was clearly Wis
ible when the wires snapped, being
lust above the fair grounds and we
ed himself. knowing death was GER
tain He made no attempt to jump
hut held himself firmly in place and
In a few seconds all was over. He
struck the ground first and the mo-
iOr above him drove him into the
earth. Every bone from his should
ers down was shattered. His body
was soft like pulp. The crowd rush
ed up and pulled the machine from
above him.
Mrs. Terrell, who had witnessed
everything, tainted when she saw his
body, and soon afterward became
hysterical. Her condition was re-
garded as serious some time after
ward. The effect of the accident on
the crowd was depressing almost
terrifying. A few minutes after the
Tragedy the country people were
hurrying for their homes and in a
short while that fair was at an end.
81 had been told" continued Mr.
Harris, that Mr.. Terrell was one OF
class of IA men taught by Curtiss,
and that seven of these had been
killed. The body of the aviator, IL
was understood, would be sent back
to Massachusetts for interment. The
sum OF $500 in al was earned by
the flights Thursday and Friday.
'EaTly that morning / was riding
In an automobile that broke down,
but no ono was hurt Thon saw the
aeroplane accident. Then lcter in
the afternoon | saw a runaway in
which lady was thrown from n
buggy" said Mr.. Harris. I'm in
clined to think that next time Fri
day. the 18th arrives III go home
and get under the bed"