SMASH OF MONOPLANE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1769, 6 June 1913, Page 3

SMASH OF MONOPLANE

AT NAPIER. INTREPID INJURED. The smash of a Bleriot monoplane at Napier, in which Mr. Stone—a somewhat intrepid operator in air flights—sustained severe injury on the King's Birthday, is graphically described-in. the account given by the "Hawke's Bay Herald.'" When "Wizard" Stone came to Napier a few days ago, and announced that ho would give a flight here there were many sceptical people who doubted whether he would really attempt a flight. Thoso people never stop to consider the risk attached to flying under adverse conditions, and the majority of the 1000 odd spectators who attended the Napier Park racecourse on Tuesday wero doubtful, eveu up to the last moment, whether the aoronaut, in the faco of the strong, gusty wind, would attempt a flight. "Will He Go Up?" From the time the grounds were opened tko question, "Will ho go up," was heard all over tlio field. Outside'the racecourse there were hundreds of spectators in traps and motor-cars who spoke of the strong wind, and did not go in because they did not wish to pay the entrance fee unless tliey wero sure that there would really bo a flight. Prior to the, flight, Mr. P. Cornwell, who owns the curious-looking racing car that has attracted so'much attention in Napier lately, cirelcd tile course several times in his car, but owing to tlio many bonds in the track was unable to do more than about fifty miles an hour. "Lot Go!" At about 4 o'clock or thereabouts Mr. Stone gave orders for his machino to be brought out from the tent in which it was sheltered, and, pulled by a body of boy scouts, the Bleriot monoplane was taken to a, paddock at the northern end of the racecourse, and placed in position facing the wind. When a few final adjustments had been made to the machine, tile aeronaut and his assistant walked about eyeing the sky with doubtful looks, and it was apparent to everyone near tlje machine that they had grave misgivings as to the wisdom of making an ascent. On returning to the machine, however, Mr. Stoue shook hands with a few friends aud climbcd into his seat; the propeller was given a turn, and half a minute later the order was given to "let go." The Flight and Fall. The mononlane started forward along the ground "for about thirty yards, rose a couple of fest. then skimmed the ground again, and, after covering about 200 yat'ds. rose gracefully in a lino with tha setting sun. All" was well- at the end of the* course, the machine seeming to bo quite at home in the air at a height of some 60 or 70 feet, but when the aeronaut commenced to turn, with the object of passing by. the main body of spectators assembled in the vicinity of the grandstand, the machine heeled heavily over to one sido, and a catastrophe seemed imminent. ' The machine righted, however, and flew by the stand, though it was obvious to everyone that the aeronaut had all he could do to manage it, tho gusts of wind causing the monoplane to wobble in an alarming manner. Tho wind coming from over the hills had a downward tendency, and was forcing the machine downwards. At tho end of the course, just as the aeronaut was attempting to rise preparatory to making a circle of the field, the machine tipped, one of the elevators struck tho top of a willow tree, and tho machine toppled over, throwing the driver out.- The machine, so far as the framework is concerned, was almost completely wrecked, and the propellor was smashed into smithereens. "Well done, Stone!" Tho aeronaut, who was badly shaken and sustained a broken collar-bone, got up and walked slowly away. As ho did so some of the crowd called out, "Well done, Stone," and the crowd gave him a rousing cheer. As soon as tho machine fell hundreds of spectators from outside swarmed into the course, and rushed to the scene of the accident, apparently more interested in the wrecked machine than the flight itself a few minutes beforo. Has Had Fifteen Smashes. Seen by a "Herald" reporter, Mr. Stone attributed his accident solely to tho tricky wind. "After I turned," he said, "I ..hardly got- straight again, and the wind came downwards from behind me, forcing the machine towards the ground." Mr. Stone has had 15 "smashes." His longest flight was from Paris to Pan, a distance ot 504 miles, in 1910. His record shows that he has also competed in numerous races. Mr. Stone considers that New Zealand is not an ideal place for flying at this time of the year, and is shortly leaving for Australia, returning to the Dominion again in December.