SAW HER HUSBAND FALL 3000 FEET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 97, 14 October 1911, Page 12

SAW HER HUSBAND FALL 3000 FEET

PROPHETIC WARNING. Over 100,000 people saw two aviators dashed to death at Chicago. The luckless aeroplanists were William Badger ami St. Croix Johnstone, both young men.

Badger was the first victim. He fell from a height of 100 ft and broke his neck. An hour later Johnstone was flying at a height of 3000 ft over Lake Michigani, when his tripjane got out of control and dropped into the lake. Among the crowd was Johnstone's young wife', who shrieked as her husband fell, "Oh, my boy, my boy; he's killed!" To reassure her some of the officials told her, "He'll be all right; it's only a ducking," Later on, when the boat "returned with the body, the people said, •'Your husband's coming back." "Thank God!" said Mrs. Johnstone; -'I'M run and get some dry clothes for 'him." When she returned nobody dared to tell her for upwards of an hour that heihusband was dead.

The aviation meeting was not suspended, and a little later the hand was playing and the performance going on as before.

Johnstone's father had refused to buy ham an aeroplane, so the young man started to build one, and went to Europe, where lie learned to fly. Then Johnstone's father again refused to buy him an aeroplane, and his answer, written to his' son almost a venr ago, seemed to foretell the fatal accident: "My conscience will not permit me to contribute, to your certain death by providing you with a flving machine. I can't buy you one. This talk about promoting science and forwarding the age of aerial transport is the silly claptrap of promoters and advertisers.'and is meant to beguile the public. Let those who encourage the. pastime risk their own bones for the benefit of science and transport. Believe roc, Croix, you will be well advised to let flying alone." Both Badger- and Johnstone formerly drove racing automobiles, and were known' as\ speed-fiends. When automobiles grew insipid they turned to aviation as the best means of gratifying their natural inclination for excitement.

Landlord: "Mr. Juggins is coming down to-morrow for a day's fishimr, Thomas'. Where shall you take him?"' Keeper: "Well, sir, that depends. Do vou want him to landa fish or only hook one, or jest catch sight of Vm like?" Landlord (considering): Well, T don't think he's of much account. Just let him see one; that'll do, and he can add the rest himself when he gets tack to London."