FRENCH AIRMAN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1428, 1 May 1912, Page 5

FRENCH AIRMAN.

MEETS WITH SERIOUS ACCIDENT. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Paris, April 29. Whilst J. Vodrines was flying from Douai in France to Madrid, a sudden wind caused him to volplane COO feet. In attempting to avoid some telegraph wires the machine crashed to the ground and fell in front of a train, which was stoppod with difficulty. Vcdrines's skull was fractured. He is in a critical condition. M. Jules Yedrines achieved great success as an airman, and many flying records stand to his credit. In March last he sought Parliamentary honours, and was a candidate for tho Limoux .division. He conducted his campaign by aeroplane. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Maij," in describing this contest, writes: His success has been ?o great that yesterday at Esperaza the director of a troop of strolling <ictors complained that his receipts, had fallen as the result of this unexpected rival attraction. Vedrines said: "I am a workman like yourself; a year ago I was earning 7Jd. an hour. I have no desiro to spoil your business,' and ho slipped a banknote into the man's hand, bidding him say nothing about the gift. The showman heralded the generous action all over tho countryside, and Vedrines's popularity increased. When ho lands in a village tho peasants leavo their fields and farms and swarm round the aeroplane, soino of them even kissing the graceful wings of tho Deperdussin. On the day before the polling he flew from dawn to sunset over the 152 communes of tho division of Limoux. At night, leaving his aeroplane, he harangued tho townsfolk in the market place. His opponent, who was holding a meeting on the terrace of an adjacent cafe, was howled down. Tho volatile little mechanic had no one to organise meetings, and no eanvasEers, but he brought his aeroplane and his own tempestuous eloquence, illustrated by a wealth of emphatic gesture. He declared that he belonged to no party, but to France. While his opponent talked on politics to the peasantry, Vedrines painted in lurid colours Trance a future in the air, and insisted on tho necessity of giving the nation ft great aerial fleet, and u man in Parliament who knew how JI Vedrines was defeated by 7G90 to 6027.