1910-11-18-tacoma-daily-ledger-p3-aviator-falls-to-death
November 18, 1910 Tacoma Daily Ledger Page 1:
AEROPLANE FAILS 500 FEET IN AIR
Flyer Fights Coolly and Grimly to Last Second to Regain Control of Machine.
EVERY BONE IS BROKEN
Souvenir Fiends Fight for Dead Man's Clothes, One Taking Bloody Splinter From Body.
DENVER, Nov 17.—With one wing tip of his machine crumpled like a piece of paper, Ralph Johnstone, the brilliant young aviator, holder of the world’s altitude record, dropped like a plummet from a height of 500 feet into the enclosure at Overland park aviation field and was instantly killed.
When the spectators crowded about the enclosure reached him, his body lay beneath the engine of the biplane with the white planes that had failed him in his time of need wrapped about it like a shroud. Nearly every bone in his body was broken.
He had gambled with death once too often, but he played the game to the end, fighting coolly and grimly to the last second to regain control of his broken machine.
Fresh from his triumphs at Belmont park, where he had broken the world’s record for altitude with a flight of 3,714 feet, Johnstone attempted to give the thousands of spectators, who stood with craned necks to watch him, an extra thrill with his most daring feat, the spiral glide, which had made the Wright aviators famous. The spectators got their thrill, but it cost Johnstone his life.
Brace Gives Way.
The fatal flight was the second John- stone had made this afternoon. In the first flight, when he was in the air with Hoxsey and Brookins, he had gone through his usual program of dips and glides with his machine apparently under perfect control. Then Johnstone rose again and after a few circles of the course to gain height, headed toward the foothills. Still ascending, he swept back in a big circle, and as he reached the north end of the enclosure, he started his spiral glide. He was then at an altitude of about 800 feet. With his planes tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees, he swooped down in a narrow circle, the aeroplane seeming to turn almost in its own length.
As he started the second circle the middle spur which braces the left side of the lower plane gave way and the wing tips of both upper and lower planes folded up as though they had been hinged. For a second Johnstone attempted to right the plane by warping the other wing tip. Then the horrified spectators saw the plane swerve like a wounded bird and plunge straight toward the earth.
Gritty Fight to Right Machine.
Johnstone was thrown from his seat as the nose of the plane swung downward. He caught on one side of the wire stays between the planes and grasped one of the wooden braces of the upper plane with both hands. Then working with hands and feet he fought by main strength to warp the planes so that their surfaces might catch the air and check his descent. For a second it seemed to the white faced spectators almost under him that he might succeed, for the football helmet he wore flew off and fell much more rapidly than the plane.
The hope was only momentary, however, for when only about 300 feet from the ground the machine turned completely over and the spectators fled wildly as the broken plane with the tense faced bey still fighting grimly in its mesh of wires and stays plunged among them with a thud and crash that could be heard over the big field.
Scarcely had he hit the ground when sensation-mad men and women swarmed over the wreckage, fighting with one another for souvenirs of the terrible accident.
One of the broken wooden stays had thrust its jagged ends almost through Johnstone's body. Before doctors or police could reach the scene one man had torn this splinter from the crushed and mangled body and ran gleefully away, carrying his horrid trophy with the Aviator’s blood still dripping from its end, Frantic, the crowd tore away the canvas from over his body and fought for the very gloves: that had protected Johnstone’s hands from cold.
The machine fell on the opposite side of the field from the grand stand there were but a few hundred near spot, but physicians and police were rushed across as soon possible. Physicians declare death must been instantaneous, as Johnstone’s back, neck, and both legs were broken, the bones of his thighs be forced through the flesh and the leather garments he wore.
The Band Played On.
Arch Hoxsey, who in a previous flight this afternoon had reached an altitude of 2,500 feet, had risen just before Johnstone began his fatal glide and was in the air when the accident took place. As he swung around the end of the course he saw that Johnstone had fallen and guided his machine directly over the body of his friend. He descended as soon is he could bring his plane to the ground and rushed to the wreckage where he and Walter Brookins helped to lift the mangled body into an auto nob which brought it to the city.
Many of the spectators were watching Hoxsey's flight and did not see Johnstone's machine collapse, but a woman's shriek, " “My God, he’s gone“ drew every eve in time to see the doomed man dashed to death upon the ground. The band in the grand stand, blaring away under contract, never ceased to play, and Johnstone's body was driven out of the enclosure with the strains of “The Grizzly Bear" for a funeral march.
It would seem that many incidents had happened through the aviation meet here today to warn the ill-fated aviator. Yesterday in alighting Johnstone broke the left wing of his machine against the fence. It was the same tip that gave way today and caused his death. Today when he started on his first flight one of the wheels on which the aeroplane runs gave way and he had to have it replaced. As he prepared to start for his last flight a fox terrier that had broken through the fence stationed himself directly in front of the machine and barking frantically refused to be driven away.
As the machine rolled down the track one of the wings swept over the dog, which pursued the machine until it was into the air.
In discussing his flights in this rare atmosphere yesterday wit a representative of the Associated Press, Johnstone declared that he would attempt no "stunts" here, as he considered it too dangerous. Evidently he believed he had solved the problems of this altitude when he departed from his determination.
Hoxsey's daring flight over the foothills seemed to fire him with a determination to outdo his teammate for the first spiral, which he made safely, was by far the most daring any of the aviators had attempted at this meet.
Teammates Are Overcome.
Seemingly dazed by the death of their teammate neither Walter Brookins nor Archie Hoxsey could be induced to talk of the sad affair. Hoxsey hid himself away and could not be found tonight. Brookins was seen by a representative of the Associated Press and begged not to be asked to discuss Johnstone's death.
Johnstone's exceptional caution impressed everyone who saw him here. He seemed to love his machine and watched over it as if it were a child.
The impression prevails that Johnstone's desire to outdo Hoxsey after the latter had made his wonderful flight for endurance and altitude this afternoon partly overcame his habit of extreme care and caused him to take unusual changes with the air.
No word came from Mrs. Johnstone, who was communicated with at the Hotel Chamberlain, New York, Johnstone's last known address. It is understood that Mrs. Johnstone and her daughter are still in New York, but the son is in Berlin
HAD NO FEAR OF DEATH
Aviator's Remark Last Sunday to Uncle is Recalled.
KANSAS CITY, Nov. 18.--When Ralph Johnstone who was killed in an aeroplane accident in Denver today, started to leave the home of W. M. Federmann, his uncle, here last Sunday on his way to the scene of the aviation meet. Federmann sad:
"I suppose I'll receive a telegram one of these days to come after your remains."
"Not mine," said Johnstone, "When I make a flight I have my planss well laid. Before I leave the ground I know exactly what I am going to do. Don't worry about me being injured."
Federmann said tonight he would to to Denver and bring Johnstone's body here.
The dead aviator was born here 30 years ago. His parents are dead. An invalid sister, Miss May Johnstone, lives in Moberly, Mo. Johnstone's wife and two children, a boy and a girl, are in New York.
Johnstone was a trick cyclist before he became an aviator. Fifteen years ago he used to entertain crowds on the street by giving performances on a dilapidated cushion tired bicycle. Fortune smiled upon him and he became the possessor of a real bicycle with pneumatic tires.
A few days later, unannounced, he rode away and when he next came home he was in the employ of a vaudeville manager. He traveled extensively abroad, giving exhibitions on his bicycle. He met in Berlin the girl who later became his wife.
Six months ago Johnstone, through Roy Knabensbue, secured an engagement with the Wright brothers. They liked his work and a few weeks ago he signed a contract extended until January 1, 1912. Johnstone had the greatest confidence in his ability to keep the world's record for height. He said while here that if any one broke the world's record which he held at the time of his death, he would go even higher.
