Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-02
AVIATIoN's HEAVY DEATH
TOLL NTEN YEARS.
A Decade Has Passed Since OrVille
Wright First Conquered the Air.

The art OF aviation, or Hy1nS III
heavier han-airs machines was ten
years old on December 18th. 1t was on
December IT, 1904, that Orville and
Wilbur Wright, the famous Ohio aV-
iators, conquered the air in series
of four short, successful flights at
SiTnms station Since that time the
aeroplane industry has been revolu-
tionized. 1t has been taken up by the
people of all lands and some advance
ment has been along new and more
useful lines than in the earlier years.
The heavier than air flier has now be-
come an important factor in warfare
and war equipment and today there is
not a country that does not include the
aeroplane in it's military and naval
equipment.
Though the process of the science
has been remarkable each year has
seen an increase in the number of
persons killed The first death was
that of Lieutenant Selfridge, of the
U. S. Signal corps, who was killed in
q flight at Fort Meyer, Sept. II, 1908.
Four aviators met death in 1903, 80
in 1910, 70 in 1911, 113 in 1912, and
1877 in the past year. The total
number of aviators who have persisted
amounts to 437.
OF the 1877 fatalities in 1913 IS oc-
Cured in the United States. To this
number may be added the death of a
California aviator in British Column
bia and of Lieutenant Rich of the
United States army, in the Philip
pines.
The list shows that the aviation IA
talities this year have been distributed
over 20 different countries A most
noticeable feature is the preponder-
ance in all countries of fatalities
among the military fiiers. This is due
TO the fact that more attention has
been given TO military aviation than
ever before while exhibition flying
has decreased because it is no longer
a novelty and fails to attract the pub
lie attention that it did few years
ago.
Many Lost in Foreign Countries.
The casualty lists of Germany and
France are the heaviest in numbers,
Germany having had SO fatalities dur
ing the year and France 81. in both
countries the majority of the victims
were military aviators- England
with a fatality list of 10, made by
far the best showing of any of the
nations which have extensively used
aircraft.
The Italian fatality list, in view of
the large number of licensed avia tors
in that country is remarka bly, low
only four Italian aviators having per-
ished during the year Russia has
suffered six fatal accidents dur
ing the year, Argentine four, Japan
l.
others have been scattered one ach
in Austria. Belgium, Switzerland,
Scotland, Canada, Portugal Morocco,
the Philippines, China, Cochin China
and the islands Of Trinidad.
United States Fatalities in Past Year.
The airInen who have lost their lives
in the United States since the begin
ming of the past year are as fol-
lows:
April ST.. S. army aviator, Lieut..
Rex Chandler, killed, and Lieut.. L. H.
Brereton badly injured by fall into
San Diego bay.
April 19-Otto w. Brodie killed in
exhibition flight in Chicago.
May 5-Charles Carlson crushed to
death under his machine at Akron, o.
May 9-U. S. army aviator, Lieut..
Joseph D. Park, killed by Ii foot fall
at Olive, Cal.
May s1-James Coiovan, amateur
flyer, killed when biplane caught in a
tree at Chicago.
June 12-Andrew Drew killed at
Lima, O.. when biplane caught fire
and fell 200 feet.
June 2o-U. S. n. aviator. Ensign
William D. Billingsiey. killed. and
Lieut.. John H. Towers severely in
Jured, by fall into Chesapeake bay,
June 23-Fred F. Gardiner drowned
in Lake Keuka, near Rochester, N,
Y, when aeroplane capsized.
July 81 s.. army aviator Lieut..
Loren H. Cali, killed by fall at Texas
City.
July s-Grover Bell died from in
aqEiss Eeceasssa In EaN s& Resaiama.