Evening star., 1923-06-18
D|VEFROM PLANE
INTO R|VERFATAL
Clarendon Man Killed While
Wife and Children
Watch Drop.

Holding a six-month-oid infant in
her arms and surrounded by her five
other children, Mrs. Aaron r. Rossignol
Clarendon. Va. yesterday afternoon saw
her husband, Aaron T. Rossignol thir-
ty-six years old. jump from an airplane
into the Potomac off Arlington Amuse-
ment Park. south OF Highway bridge,
and meet instant death. Rossignol had
hoped to make a success of diving from
airplanes. in order that he might give
such exhibitions at river resorts. The
body was not recovered until two hours
later
Felix r. Rigau, 93s New York ave-
nue., pilot OF the plane. took Rossignol
up. only after the latter had assured
him that he was experienced in giving
such performances and was told that
ne would make the effort on his own re-
sponsloiiity. In order that there would
De no mistake about the conditions
Hnaer which the feat was to be per
FORMED, Rigau had witnesses affix their
signatures TO statement Rossignol
made.
Claimed Former Success
Rossignol. employed as an automobile
Inechanic IN the garage OF Chestnut
farms Dairy, was an athlete deeply in
teresteo IN sports, especially in airplane
stunts. 1t is said he made IT plain that
ne had succeeded in such a stunt on
former occasions. which induced Rieaul
owner OF commercial plane, to con-
sent to take him into the air.
Mrs. Rossignol and her children
We're at the hangers when the hus-
pand made the deal. and. 1t is stated,
she offered no objection to the flight
so far as the pilot heard. Taking his
family to the park, Rossignol return
ed TO the airplane. donned his bathing
SUIT and soon was being taken through
the air.
After circling about Boiling Field.
Rlgau returned to the vicinity OF the
bridges. and when the plane was
ABOUT ten feet from the water he
suggested that his passenger dive.
me distance was not great enough
ior the clarendon man TO give a
Inrliter and he waited until the plane
reached an altitude Of about fifty feet
before he decided TO drop.
Climbed On Wing.
Police were told by the pilot that
Rossignol climbed out on a wing Of
the plane as IL he had been accus-
TONED to such craft His drop was
perfect. the pilot said. but soon his
body turned and he landed in the
y q
saw his legs moving about in the wa
ter and thought the stunt had been a
success. Presently, however. he re-
, allied the man had been hurt
Rigau said he discovered the body
had disappeared and muddy bubbles
were rising from the spot where he
had gone in. He furnished a bond
for his appearance at an inquest al
the morgue this afternoon.
Police OF the harbor precinct, as
sisted by many volunteers began a
search for the body, which was re-
covered by William T. Reynolds and
Louis Wood, volunteer searchers, two
hours later. The neck was found
broken.
Rigau is an experienced pilot, hold
Ing licenses from the Army and Navy
board and the Aeronautical Associa-
ton. He served in the Navy during
the war. He says when Rosignol ap-
preached him he asked him If he had
succeeded in such stunts before and
was answered in the affirmative, Ros-
signol adding that he wanted to give
the demonstration as he thought he
would be able to contract to give
similar demonstrations for the com
pany conducting the amusement park
1t was only after he had convinced
the pilot he had had prior expert
ences with airplanes and that he was
going UP on his own responsibility
Rigau stated, that he consented to
take him. 1t was the first fatality OF
it's kind that has happened in Dis
trict waters and the coroner deemed
1t advisable to hold an inquest.