The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-25
Victim of Pneumonia
Played Big Part in
FeatS of Sky.
SERUM is OF NO USE
Disease of Type Which
Doctors Could Not
Halt Progress.
(Bennett's picture, life story, Page
One, Section TwO)

Il
One, Section TwO)
BH United Press
QUEBEC, April 25. - Floyd
Bennett died in the Jeffrey Hale
Hospital today of pneum MIA.
America lost one of her greatest
airmen and the whole world
mourned one of the pioneers who
played a conspicuous part in the
stirring aviation feats of the past
year.
Bennett died at 1O:45 a. m. He
died in the cause to which he had
devoted his life.
Although in i'll health, he sacri-
feed himself to fly with relief from
Detroit for the transatlantic plane
Bremen on Greenly Island.
Whole World Concerned
Double pneumonia developed. The
man who piloted Commander Rich
ard E Byrd to the north pole and
riSked his life in other daring feats
was unable to combat it in his
weakened condition.
The entire world was concerned.
= Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, America s
idol, made a magnificent effort to
save him by flying from New York
to Quebec, more than 500 miles, in
record-breaking time with serum to
combat the disease.
1t failed, the serum proving use
less for the type of pneumonia with
which Bennett was afflicted.
His commander and friend, Byrd,
came from Boston to stand by him.
Bennett smiled when Byrd was per-
mitted a brief look at him and
promised he would be we'll in time
to go with Byrd on his greatest ex-
ploit-the projected flight over the
South Pole this fall.
Byrd was deeply affected by Ben
nett's death. The two men were
like brothers.
Flier'S Wife Is Ill
The flier's wife, who came to be
at his bedside. was taken i'll with
tonsilitis and was confined to the
same hospital when the end came.
His mission a failure, despite his
splendid flight, Col Charles A. Lind
bergh left the flying field here at
1922 a. m. for the return trip to
New York, where he was expected
about 3 p. m.
Bennett became i'll after he ar
rived at Murray Bay, Quebec, from
Detroit in a Ford relief plane. He
was brought to Quebec in a special
airplane.
It was announced he had double
pneumonia.
The Rockefeller Foundation in
New York asked by telephone
whether the specialists, brought
from New York, could use pneu-
monia serum. The specialists said
they could.
Colonel Lindbergh said he would
fly the serum to the relief of the
stricken aviator.
Shows Typical Daring
That was about noon Tuesday.
They figured Lindbergh might fly to
Montreal and come by special train
to cover the $50 miles between New
York and Quebec, in perhaps four
and a half hours.
None had reckoned on Lindbergh's
daring.
He left Curtiss field, Long Island,
at 3:08 p. m, flying an Army pur-
suit plane loaned by the Govern
ment, heading directly into a snow
storm.
Three and a half hours later resi-
dents near the Jeffrey Male Hos
pital here heard the hum of a mo-
tor overhead.
A yellow airplane swung low over
the hospital.
Commander Richard E. Byrd
started for the Plains of Abraham,
historic battle-ground, now land
ing field.
The plane sped directly for the
landing field, blanketed by eight
inches of snow.
Lindbergh brought the plane to
the ground.
Whole Project in Vain
Just as at Lebourget a yeal ago
it seemed the crowd would he cut
by the swift propeller. But the
American brought, the plane to a
dead stop without an accident.
Commander Byrd came up run
ming. The two famous fliers ex-
changed greetings.
Then Byrd seized a carton and
basket containing the precious
serum, three white mice for lab
oratory experiments and some other
supplies, and hurried back to the
hospital with the serum.
At the hospital laboratory tests
were started Immediately to de-
termine whether Bennett would re-
act to the serum.
Then came the discouraging in
formation that the whole project
had been in vain.