South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-28
Drummer DIES
AS PARACHUTE
FAILS TO OPEN
Mishawaka Dare Devil Bal
loOnist Is Hurled 1000
Feet to Death.
ACCIDENT AT BREMEN
Hundreds Witness Mishap at
Picnic at the Lake of
the Woods"


Victor A Drummer. professional
baIloonist. 223 z. Eleventh ST. Mish-
awake, was instantly killed Satur-
day evening at $50 o'clock when he
fell while preparing 70 make a para
chute drop from the wings Of an
airplane 1000 feet above the ground
al Lake Of the Woods. four miles
west OF Bremen. Thousands of spec
tators attending the Old Settlers pic
mic Witnessed the accident. NJ. Faw-
cett, Dowagiac. Mich, piloted the
plane.
Drummer. Fawcett says. had just
/ left the seat of the plans and had
succeeded in reaching the edge OF
/ the right wing when the accident oc-
CURED. Drummer. with the parachute
strapped securely around his body
stepped into the web OF the receiver
/ Of the parachute. which was torn
and It failed to open. and before he
could get his foot into the other
web he plunged 10 his death.
Mother Predicted Death.
! His mangled body was found living
in a cOrnfeld with both legs broken
and the rest Of his body in an un-
/ recognizable condition. He was taken
10 the undertaking establishment in
! Bremen. Mrs. Drummer. although
present al the exhibition grounds.
failed 70 see the accident. and was
not Informed Of her husbands death
4 until an hour later.
His mother, Mrs. Vincent Drummer,
who died at san Francisco. Calf.
recently. had predicted that her son
would meet with a fatal accident In
August OF this year. according &c
statements made by members OF the
Drummer family.
F'awcett declares that Drummer
noticed the torn condition of the
web OF the receiver Of the parachute
too late, and that he saw him fran
tically attempt 10 get the other web
( open as he was hurting through the
air.
Drummer. who has thrilled thou
sands OF people by his daring para
/ chute leaps in the various cities of
I the country since his discharge from
the army in July 1918. had had
] several minor experiences in follow
cut his profession. but has never
before met with a serious accident.
! IL was said.
His Second Attempt
He was well known 10 South
Benders and had given numerous
/ exhibitions at Springbrook park
He was also the featured attraction
at the opening Of various real estate
additions in this vicinity All OF his
parachute drops. with the exception
Of two, were made from his own
balloon. Yesterday was the second
time he had ever attempted 20 leap
20 the ground from an airplane. His
first attempt which was successful
was made in the flying field just
north OF Notre Dame early last year.
Capt Ruddick, an army officer. who
was here doing recruiting duty.
piloted the plane that the leap was
made from.
II was at first thought that his
ineXperience in parschuting from tho
plane was the cause Of his death.
but Fawcett maintains IL was the
faulty condition Of the parachute.
During one OF his exhibitions in an
Arizona town two years ago he pur-
chased a pet lion. Teddy" and had
carried this lion with him as a mas
cot IN all Of his flights until yester-
day, when he was forced o. leave
him on the ground.
Saw Military Service.
He was % years old and had been
a resident OF Mishawaka an OF his
life. He enlisted In the army .n Nay
1917. and was Immediately sent 20
Fort Randolph. Canal zone Pana-
ma. He was a member Of the coast
artillery stationed there. T. was while
In the service that he first gained
his experience IN balloon fylls and
parachute dropping
He was permanently injured dur
Ing his service in the Canal zone
when one OF the artillery guns exc
7 ploded near him and broke his ear
drum. He was treated DO the army
hospital for several months but
never regalned his hearing He was
discharged as a casual in July 1915
land on his return % MlshawaEa be
purchased a balloon. and the reuura-
ton he gained in making accents n
this vicinity soon opened the path
for him 90 secure engagements IN
the leading cities of the country.
He was married % Hazel Mar
chant. Mishawaka. On Chicago. Oc-
he. 1918. who survives.
He is also survived by his father.
/ Vincent Drummer. go =. 1Iishawaka
av.. and by brothers and sisters. Mrs
John Grzesk. South Bend; Casper.
Joseph. Charles. Marie and Leola. ~
AIishawaka. and Vincent. Jr.. or cal
Iif0rnia.
The funeral arrangements have
not been completed.