Fight For Life in Mid Air.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 January 1911, Page 3

Fight For Life in Mid Air.

DEPLORABLE ACTIONS. Ralph Johnstone, the famous aviator, holder of the world's altitude record, foil 800 feet afc Denver, am was killed. The, accident was a case of fibbing with death once too often. Mr Hoxsey, Mr Jolin.stonc's rival in high flights, ibas executed his usual programme of thrillm" dips and dives, when Mr Johnstone rose and sailed off to the foothills, returning ait an elevation of SOO feet. On reaching the- enclosure lie. started to execute some special slides. Ho had completed one and beo-uii another when the support of Tjie left lower plane 'broke, and .the wing tips of the upper and lower planes folded up like rings. Mr Johnstono tried to maintain his equilibrium, but the biplane dropped like a, wounded bird. The aviator was thrown omt of his soat. When the fatal dip started, the rrowd cheered, not realising that

Johnstone had miscalculated the manoeuvre. Suddenly Wie machine turned over three times and then plunged to earth. tie grasped the wooden braces of the upper plane with both hands, and then, working with hands and feet, fought valiantly to warp the planes so that the surfaces mighiti catch the air and check the descent. Momentarily it seemed that he might succeed, as his fooithall helmet blew off and foil more rapidly than the plane. Then the horrified spectators saw tho machine turn over,_ Johnstone still fighting grimly wiitihin the meshes of the wings, and fall like a plummet in their midst. Some declare that the accident was due to the frame breaking under the terrific strain of rthe dip. A large crowd which was attending the aviation meeting witnessed the accident. Scarcely had man and machine struck the ground when morbid persons of 'boith sexes were fighting for souvenirs. A man rushed to the wreck, nulled out a wooden stay piercing the body, and carried off his trophy, dripping with the aviator's blood. Otiliors tore up the canvas wings of (the aeroplane, some even fought for the gloves on the dead man's'hands.