HAWKER’S SECRET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 310, 24 September 1921, Page 3

HAWKER’S SECRET

DEAD AIRMAN A VICTIM OF CONSUMPTION NOT STRENGTH ENOUGH TO FLY Hendon, July 16. At Hendon Town Hall to-day, within a short distance of the aerodrome which had been the scene of so many of his exploits, the circumstances of the tragic death of Mr. Harry Hawker, the famous aviator, were investigated by the Coroner, Dr. G. Cohen. Mr. Hawker was killed last Tuesday in an aeroplane crash, and was to have taken part in to-day’s aerial Derby. The public will bo astonished, in view of ths feats of endurance associated with his name, to hear that the famous aviator was a victim of consumption, and was, in the words of his doctor, on his last legs physically- , Dr. Garner, of Weybridge. his medical attendant, stated that Hawker suffered from tubercular disease, and that he saw a specialist eighteen months ago. He believed that the airman had 1 been advised not to, fly for some time. Pis physical condition was.not strong enough for him to fly and take risks like that. He came to the conclusion that haemorrhage took place while Hawker was in the air, and that as the result of it he became paralysed. The'verdict was that .Hawker, owing to his physical disabilities, lost control of the aeroplane, and, that death was due to misadventure. Dr. Garner said Mr. Hawker was not a healthy man. Eighteen months ago he called to see witness, but witness was out Mr. Hawker was in such pain with his back that) he went up to see a Specialist without waiting for witness The examination by the specialist revealed tubercular disease of the spine. This had been borne out by the. postmortem examination. . The Coroner: Have you ever tried to persuade him to give nn? • Witness: I tried mv utmost to get him ti submit to the specialist’s recommendation, but he would not submit. Witness saw him on Easter Monday of this year, and Mr. Hawker then rather jeered at him. because he (Mr. Hawker) considered that he had done quite well. in snite of not going in for treatment. Witness told him that it was « temporary remission. . / Referring to the , post-mortem examination, witness ’ spoke of the condition of ths* spine, and said that the haemorrhage had either taken place in the air, or by the shock of landing. If the latter had been the.cause he would have expected to find bfrod which had just oozed out Instead of that' he found a mass of blood on the front of the spinal cord, which had evidently collected under pressure, and witness therefore maintained it was 'blood which had oozed out during life, and not after death. Witness added that there were superficial burns on the back of the deceased s light hand, right leg, and both ankles above the shoes. It looked as though they were due to the petrol being spurt, ed on his body at the same time. Dr. Garner said he had treated Mr. Hawker for many aeroplane accidents at Brooklands. Hawker did not realise how serious was his condition. Haemorrhage might have started in 4he air, or whilst he was driving his motor-cycle from Kingston. Hawker was absolutely on his last legs. Witness further said that the treatment recommended to Mr. ~awker eighteen months ago included going to bed. .... Mr Phillip Tolland, of the .Aviation Department of the Nieuport Company, said he designed th© machine which Mr. Hawker flew. It had been entirely overhauled, and met with his MT-”™ 1 before Mr. Hawker wen,t up. Mr. Hawker expressed his satisfaction. Asked by Mr. ’ Folland if there were any defects, Mr. Hawker said one of the magnetos was . weak, but tho machine could travel on ono magneto, i Mr. Hawker appeared to be quite satisfied. Ibe machine came, to ground about threequarters of a mile from where Mr. lob land was standing. Mr. Hawker lived ten minutes after reaching the ground. The coroner: I think there has been a statement made in the Press that the wings had been clipped. Mr. Folland : It is absolutely, untrue. Mr. Bradshaw, chief engineer of Walton Motors Co., questioned by the coroner as to Mr. Hawkdr’s complaint about the magneto, said that'it was a very common thing for a magneto to misfire. It came on again quickly. That could have had nothing to do with the accident. evidence of witnesses who saw the crash included Mrs. Lily Cantief, who said she was sure Uat there were no flames from tho machine when in the air. It struck the ground, but she did not see Mr. Hawker thrown out. Mr. Robert Cantief said after the crash on the ground it. ran along for a short distance, and then rose about eight to fifteen feet high. Something burst, and then the whole thing w\ s in flames. In view of the statement that Hawker consulted a specialist eighteen months ago, it may be pointed ouWthat it was in May, 1919, that he attempted Mx> fly the Atlantic. .