ROMANCE OF THE AIR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 22 June 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANCE OF THE AIR

SUICIDE BY AEROPLANE. The well-known Belgian aviator, M. Seloe Verrept, fell at the Chateau Fort aerodrome, Versailles, from a height of over (iOflft. He died shortly after- reaching hospital. According to the Liberte and the Journal des Debats, Verrept committed suicide. They assert that when in the air he deliberately held his arms aloft, andl his machine, freed from control, fell headlong to the ground. 'Verrept, who was only 23, had taken part in most of the big competitions and 1 races—always with sufficient skill and success to arouse especial respect on tlie part of his fellow pilots, but seldom with' the touch of goodi fortune that might have brought him prominently before the public—was chief instructor at the Borel-Morane school at Buc, near Versailles. He had a long dispute with his fiancee, and several times those who were near by .heard him state most distinctly that if she would not accede to some demand of his—exactly what has not yet been determined—he would kill himself. Those who overheard the dispute thought no more of it, for Verrept had a reputation as a man of calm and rational disposition, When he arrived at Buc there was nothing in his attitude to cause any alarm. He was seen, declares the French journal, to grasp a signed photograph of his fiancee, andl press it over his heart before going up, but there was thought to be nothing extraordinarily unusual in this. His maAine had. just been verified by some military pupils, and everything was in the best order. Verrept went up, and for threequarters of an hour flew round and above ground with his usual mastery. Then suddenly, when 1000 ft to 1800 ft up, he pointed downwards at an angle of 45deg., and, to their horror, those who had been watching him noticed that, whilst doing so, he had not cut off his engine. This was not one of his usual vol-planes, but a,dieliberate dive to death. The machine was a wreck, and the body of Verrept was hardly recognisable. Those present were still more harrowed by the arrival of his fiancee, who, having heard, that he had gone to Buc, had raced out from Paris to attempt to plead with him not to take his life. She arrived! an hour too late. Her grief was pitiable to see. It must be pointed out that in making exhibition flights it is no uncommon thing for aviators to demonstrate the steadiness of their machines and their complete mastery over them by raising both hands above their heads. Thus far the roll of aviator victims is said to be 128.