Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, November 19, 1910, NEWS SECTION, Image 8

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    JOHNSTONE KILLED BY FALL
Holder of Altitude Record Crushed by
Five Hundred-Foot Drop.
ally In the Wright camp. It If that John
stons, after ha realised that hla machine
j had lout Ita balance, attempted to liKht It
I by ulns; tha emergency warping lever. In
hla anxiety for quick reeulta. the mechani
cian theorliea, Johnetone Jerked the lever
' too aharply, snapping the warping wires
WETQ TIPS CRUMPLE AKD YIELD. The collapsa of the wing followed.
Mechanician Etehataedt rays there was
Aviator Werki resrtelr t'
End nrrirc (onlrol ef Fall
In c Machine and
Own Life-
IjENVER, Not. 11 With one win tip of
hla machine crumpled like a piece paper,
Ralph Johnatone. the brilliant young aviator,
holder of the world s altitude record, drop
ped like a plummet from a height of 600
feet Into the lncloeure at Overland park
aviation field yesterday and waa lnstanly
killed.
When the spectators crowded about the
inrlosure reached lilm, 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 be played the game to the end,
fighting cooly and grimly to the last second
to regain control of bis broken machine.
I'resh from his triumphs at Belmont park,
where ha had broken the world's record for
altitude with a flight of 9,714 feet, John
atone attempted to give the thousands of
apectators an extra thrill with bis most
daring feat, the spiral glide, which has
made the Wright aviators famous. The
apectators got their thrill, but It cost John
atone his life.
Second mailt of Afternoon.
The fatal flight was the aecond Johnstone
had made this afternoon. In the first flight,
wben he waa In the air with Hoxsey and
Urooklns, he bad gone through his usual
progTara of dips and glides with the ma
chine apparently under perfect control.
Then Johnstone rore again, and after a
few circuits of the course to gain height,
headed toward the foothills.
etlll ascending, be swept back in a big
circle, and as he reached the north end of
the lnclosura he started his spiral glide.
He was then at an altitude of about 800
feet. With his planes tilted fct an angle of
almost 90 degrees, ha swooped down in a
narrow circle, the aeroplane seeming to
turn almost In Its own length.
As be started the second circle the middle
spur which braces the left side of the lower
plane gavo way and the wing tips of both
upper and lower planes folded up as though
they had been hinged. For a second John-
atone attempted to right the plane by warp
ing the other wing. Then the horrified
apectators saw the plane swerve like a
wounded bird and plunge straight toward
the earth.
Johnston was thrown from his seat aa
the oose of the plan swung downward.
H caught on on of the wire stays be
tween the planes and grasped on of the
wooden brace 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 hla descent.
For a second It seemed that he might suc
ceed, for the foot ball helmet he wore blew
tiff and fail muoh mor rapidly than the
plan.
Machine Tvrnl Over.
The hop was only momentary, however,
for wben only about 800 feet from the
ground the machine turned completely over
and the spectators fled wildly as the
broken plane, with the aviator still fight
ing grimly In Its mesh of wires and stays,
plunged among them with a oraah.
Scarcely had Johnstone hit the ground
before morbid men and women swarmed
over the wreckage fighting with each other
for souvenirs. One of the broken wooden
tays had gona almost through Johnstone's
body. Before doctors or polio could reach
the scene one man had torn this splinter
from the body and run away, carrying his
trophy 'with the aviator's blood still drip
ping from It at the ends.
Frantio, the crowd tor away the canvas
from over his body and fought for the very
gloves with which he had protected his
hands from the cold. '
The machine fell on the opposite aid of
the field from the grand stand and there
were but a few hundred near the spot, but
physicians and police were rushed aoross
aa soon aa possible. Physicians declare
death must have been Instantaneous, as
Johnstone's back, neck and both legs were
broken, the bones of his thigh being forced
through the flesh and the leather garments
lie wore.
Arch Hoxsey, 'who la a previous flight
this afternoon had reached an altitude of
2.500 feet, had risen just before Johnstone
began his fatal glide and waa In the air
when the accident took place. As lie swung
arouna tne other end of the course he saw
that Johnston bad fallen and guided his
machine directly over the body of his
friend. lie descended as soon as he could
bring his plane to the ground and rushed
to the wreckage, where he and Walter
Urooklns helped lift the mangled body Into
an automobile, which brought It to the
city.
Ulnar DM Not CsllasM.
Many of tn spectators wer watching
lioxsey-a night and did not see John
stone s macmne couapse, Dut a woman's
abriek, "My Uod, he's gone!" drew every
eye In time to see him dashed to death
upon the ground. The band In the grand
eland, blaring away under contract, never
ceased to play and Johnstone's body waa
taken out of the enclosure with the stratus
of "A OrUicly Bear" for a funeral inarch.
It would aem that many Incidents had
happened throughout the aviation meet
here to warn the ill-fated aviator. Tester
day In alighting Johnstone broke the left
wing tip 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 along the ground gave way and had
to b replaced. As he prepared to start
for hla laat flight a fox terrier that had
broken through the fence stationed him
self directly In front of the machine and,
barking frantically, refused to be driven
away. Aa the machine rolled down the
track one of the wings swept above the
dog, which pursued the machine until It
lifted Into the air.
In discussing his rights In this rare at
mosphere ytrterday with a representative
of the Associated Press, Johnston de
clared he would attempt no "tricks" here,
as he considered It too dangerous, evi
dently, however, he believed he had solved
the problems of this altitude when ha da
parted from his determination.
Hoxaey'a daring flight far over the foot
bills Baemed to fire him with a determina
tion to outdo his teammate, for the first
spiral, which he made safely, waa by far
the moat daring any ot the aviators had
attempted at this meet.
Widow on Way.
Walter Urooklns received a telegram from
Wilbur Wright tonight stating that he waa
leaving In company with Mra Johnatone
for Kansas City, Johnstone's home, and in
structing Brookins to have hla body sent
to that cty at onoe.
The message also requested Brook ins to
call off the meet providing th Denver ol
floiala consented. At a lata hour tontght
UrooMna waa In confureno with Promoter
Ilarvey and other official of tha moet
trying to arrive at a conclusion. Brookins
Indicated his personal dcmlr not to make
auy mor flights la Denver, but Hoxsey
aaid that he waa willing to oontlnu.
aleohanliran T. L Klchsiaodt of th
Wright crew of aajwrts advanced a theory
Ks tha amrtrtem, tfea s aMtrev4 gecvar-
nJiuial society adjourned today after a
three days' session. The following officers
were elected:
PreKident. O. D. Black. Independence;
vice pi eldnt. R. Flakeman. leioiah; sec
retary, K. L (inrulner. ueatte; treasurer,
(.'. H. True. Kdnewood; director, W. A.
Murnap. Clear Lake; '. O. Patten, 1'narles
City; Jolin llarter, lxjcuet; W. 11. Guilford,
liuhuqtie; K. M. Peeves, Waverly; P.. F.
Ferris, Hampton.
to noth.ng wrong with the machine wben
Johnstone took It out of the tent
NEW YORK, Nov. IS Johnstone's widow
got the news of her husband's death from
Wilbur Wright, who is In this city. She
waa so prostrated that she denied herself
to callers and Wilbur Wright said she had
no statement for publication.
Relieved Fall impossible.
KANSAS C1TT, Mo.. Nov. 18. When
Ralph Johnstone, who was killed In an
aeroplane accident In Denver today,
started to leave the home of W. M. Feder
niann, his uncle, here last Sunday on hla
way to the Ienver aviation meet, Feder
mann said:
"I suppose I'll receive a telegram one of
these days to come after your remains."
"Not mine," said Johnstone, shaking his
relative's hand and smiling. "When 1 make
a flight I have my plans well laid. Ile
fore I leave the ground I know exactly
what I am going to do. tion't worry about
me being Injured."
The dad aviator was born here thirty
years ago. His patents are dead. An In
valid 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. He traveled exten
sively abroad, giving exhibitions on his
bicycle. He met in Berlin the girl who
later became hla wlte.
Six months ago Johnstone, through Roy
Knabenshue, secured an engagement with
the Wright brothers. They liked his work
and a few weeka ago he signed a contract
extending until January 5, 1912.
Johnstone had the greatent confidence In
hla ability to keep the world's record for
height. He said while here that If anyone
broke the world's record, which he held at
the time of his death, he would go even
higher.
Sketch of Johnatone.
NEW YORK, Nov. 18. Ralph Johnstone
waa an altitude flier, pure and simple. He
had only been five months in the game and
never tried for cross-country eventa, speed
dashes or distance, but his full-blooded,
stoutly knit frame stood him in good
stead at resisting the cold of the supper
airs and the Instinctive poise of the trick
bicycle rider helped him in high winds. He
was full of seal and pride and his dally
rivalries with his teammate. Arch Hox
sey, In their duels for altitude was one
of the delights of the recent international
aviation meet at Belmont park.
How high do you think you went?" the
crowd asked him one night wben he settled
on the field alter sunset numbed and
shivering.
I don't know," he answered, "but if I
did not go higher than that Hoxsey I'll
never trust a barograph again."
It happened that Johnstone was defeated
on that occasion, but by daily striving be
got a little higher each time until on the
last day of the meet he brought back the
world's record, 9.714 feet, which he held at
his death. He had already taken the Amer
ican reoord from Walter Brookins of the
Wright team and when J. Armstrong
Drexel went him a little better he came
back again with still another American
record. Nothing remained for him then but
the world's record, and In the end he eot
that too.
Moat Remarkable Feat.
The feat brought him J5.000 In cash and
more fame than anything else he ever
did, but It waa not really his most re
markable piece of airmanship. In one
flight at Belmont park, the day he de
feated Drexel, he and Hoxsey went up In
a gale so atlff that for a time they hung
above the field Immovable In latitude,
though they were steadily gaining in alti
tude and then began to drift backwards.
They were blown off the course, out of
sight and Johnstone landed fifty mile
down Long Island, but it was characteristic
of his pluck that he kept on climbing until
his last drop of gasoline was exhausted.
"I guess," said Wilbur Wright, at the
time, "that's the first cross country flight
ever made tallend foremost."
Major Samuel Reber of the United States
signal corps added that nothing In aviation
had gone so far to prove the worth of the
aeroplane In stiff weather. He estimated
the strength of the wind Johnstone then
fought at forty-five miles an hour and
upward a.
Johnatone liked applause, but he seldom
tried tricks to gain It.
Plain Clothes Men
in New York Become
Independent Agents
Mayor Oaynor Makes Big Shakenp in
Entire Department Six Hundred
Detectives Are Involved.
NEW YORK. Nov. IS. The shakeup In
the police department, predicted ever since
Mayor Gaynor took office, came today.
The changes made strike at the foundation
of the police department and place the en
tire detective force on a new footing.
Heptnning Saturday there will be no more
branch detective bureaus In any of the
horoushs except Brooklyn, which by geo
graphical necessity has always been aome
thlng of a law unto Itself. Detectives will
no lonRer report to captains of precincts
or tn.spertors of districts, but to a lieutenant-captain
of detectives who will be
directly responsible to the Inspector at
headqunrtcts In cliarpe or the entire bureau
who In turn is under the second deputy
commissioner, William Flynn.
in short, the plain clothes man, the
handy man of captains and Inspectors, the
ready errand runner for "the system," has
come to the end of his rope. Detectives
will he no part of the precinct command
and will work Independently of the unl-
fnrmit nnltcn This la the nollrv nf the
English detective force, which works under , KToM"
Scotland t ara, a ceniraniea control, nu
It Is also in line with the policy of the
secret service in this country.
More than 600 detectives will have to ad
Just themselves to the new order. They
will have nothing to do with gambling,
disreputable houses and keeping the
streets clean of sollcltmg, which will be
looked after by a special vice squad. Their
business will be to run down criminals and
nothing else. They will even refrain from
making arrests wherever possible, leaving
that to the uniformed officer, whose face
can become known to the criminal world
without Impairing his usefulness.
Intra Kens Motes.
WOODBINE J. A. Boyle and his son
were both Injured, the latter probably
seriously, when they were struck by a
freight enelne while crossing the tracks of
the Northwestern. It fa feared the boy
was hurt Internally.
CRESTON A Jury verdict In the district
court, yesterday gave Vernon Powash W
danuKi'i for Injuries sustained a short time
ami in an automobile accident, when ho
whs run down and run over by a car, owned
and driven by Truman Brothers of this
city.
IOWA CITY The Invention of a butter
color has Just been accomplished by an in
structor at the State University of Iowa In
the person of K. A. Kuever of the phar
macy department. Experts declare th
preparation to be as near perfection as
anything of that line can possibly be.
1jGAN Complimentary to the P. E. O.
Sisterhood of I.oksh, Miss Ella May Rial
of Omaha lectured here last evening on
her travels abroad. Miss Rial waa intro
duced by Miss Mary Rice In a moat happy
manner. The lecture Is reported by tliofe
in attendance, as both Instructive and en
tertaining. LOGAN The marriage of Miss Marie F.
Moore and Mr. George W. Small was
solemnized at the home of the bride s
lather, between Ixigan and Woodbine, yes
terday. Rev. C. S. Lyles, officiating. After
ino marriaae ceremony, dinner waa served
Horticultural Society Officers.
CEDAR FALLS. la., Nov. IS. (Special. )
Telegram.) The Northeastern Iowa Horti-
Mapleton, la.
COR I DON The equal suffrage state con
vention opened here yeBtertlay when the
executive committee conducted the prepara
tory Duamess. i ne nrst lormai session was
held In the evening at the Methodist church,
when addresses weie given by Mayor D.
L. MuiTow, J. J. sterling and Rev. Dr. A.
H. Slothower. The principal address whs
made by President Julia Clark Hallam.
Delegates from all over the state are pres
ent. IDA GROVE Carl Leopold, the Los An
geles saloonkeeper who hanged himself in
Imh Angeles Tuesday, lived in this county
twenty-five years and accumulated a for
tune. When he went west he paid 23.0"0
In cash for a saloon In Los Angeles. He
began his career In Iowa as a day laborer
ana ten tne state worth over J.iO.000. He
leaves a wife and four daughters. One
married daughter, Mrs. Charles Skoog,
lives here. His body will be brought here
for interment.
GRAND JURY LOOKING
UNTO CAR REPAIR FRAUDS
Ksmher of Illinois Central Official
Called Before Inquisition In
Chlcnajo.
CHICAGO, Nov. 17. Th November grand
Jury today began hearing evidence in the
Illinois Central railroad car repair graft
cases. State's Attorney Wayman first sum
moned witnesses who told of padded re
pair bills, duplicate Invoices and bills for
repairs that were .never made, by which,
It Is alleged, the railroad was defrauded
of nearly $3,000,000. Among the witnesses
called to the grand jury room were:
Earle C. U. Cowglll, chief clerk to Presi
dent James T. Harahan of the Illinois Cen
tral railroad; Henry C. Ostermann, former
president of the Ostermann Manufacturing
company, and Richard Roth, car Inspector
for the railroad.
T? K vl t 4 ti 17
1 U u I mm
ii
f7v trja try trry
mm
You ma get a Chickertog A Sons, Packard, Knrtznian, Ivers &
Pond, IL A 8. O. Llndeman, Harvard, Sterling, Huntington, Kohler A
Campbell, Walworth, Wearer, York, the Autopiano, Krell Anto-Grand
Players.
The Bennett Co
FORMER LINCOLN PASTOR
FROM CHURCH TO BUSINESS
Rov. C. R. Hamlin, In Hla Maaaachn
ett Field, Deldea to Leav
tha Pulpit.
BOSTON, Nov. 18 (Special Telegram.)
Rev. Christopher Robert Hamlin, who
came her from Plymouth church, Lincoln,
Neb., to fill the pulpit of the First Con
gregational church at Randolph, Mass.,
surprised his flock today bw notifying them
through the deacons of the church that he
is through. Not only Is Mr. Hamlin through
with the Randolph pastorate, but he Is done
with the ministry. He will enter some
business, the nature oL which he will de
termine later.
FATHER HEIR OF OWN BABY
By Ieath of Year Old Bon I.nat July
Washing-ton Man Inherits Hlaj
V.mtmt:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1H. A case In
which a father la heir to the liOO.wO estate
of his only child Is being administered by
a local trust company.
By tha death of his year-old son last
July, Joseph H. Bradley, resident of a
Maryland suburb ot Washington, will In
herit a third interest In the estate of Mary
C. Parrish of Wllkesbarr. Pa., th boy's
grandmother, who died last October.
mpany
y I
M wm
May Be JodlelaJ Contest.
CRESSTON, la.. Nov. IS. (Special ) The
official vote received from Decatur county
In th judicial election of this district give
Thomas Main ell th lead again and also
a majority of nine votes over his opponent,
J. 11. Jameson of Osceola, tor district
Judge. Jameson's friends are urging him
to contest th election, and there 1 a poa.
sibluty b ma do so.
On-thc fVM'glK Trail
All winter long, in Sunny California, you may play
golf, or tour in an auto over idea! roads. Try your luck
at deep-sea-fishirig, go tailing, or bathe In the Pacific eurf. Visit the
old missions, too. And you can stay at great resort hotels world
famed for their luxurious service.
Just on best way to go "Santa Fe all the Way" to Los Angr).aa,
San Dirgo, San Fnncuro. Just on best train to take The Call! arma
Limited. Exclusively tor fust-class travel. Fred Harvey diuiAg-car
meals and Pullman fox Grand Canyon of Aruona.
I will gWdlr ml yes m request. thr art boofcbmi at thit trsla tni tha.
tamuc! Lanjuer, Gmwtl A tot 4il6 iixil Araaa Do Moinca Ioa
Z&6
- c(ali6rnia3imif ed
Jit's MMh Time
To be thinking of fall wearables. Not only is it time to be thinking of them, but
it's time to be buying them, also.
Your clothes are an important factor in your affairs.
They present you to the world as a man of taste or ns a triflor with your
appearance.
Browning, King & Co.'s olothes are styled right and fit right. No exclusive
tailor could make better clothes.
If you have never bought clothes here, come and see what you have been
missing.
You'll like our Rervice as well as you'll like our clothes.
Suits, $15 to $40. Overcoats, $15 to $55.
In our Young Men's department on the second floor, we are showing some
very attractive models in suits and overcoats for the young fellows. $12.50 to $30.
Hats, shirts, ties, underwear and everything in up-to-date haberdashery are
here for your approval.
All our wearables come to us fromthe best makers and we feel so sure of
what we sell you that we say, "Money back, if anything goes wrong."
irowmiirugo ECiinig
The Store of the Town. R. S. Wilcox, Mgr.
SElCo.
FR
Publicity
Contest
FREE
Five of the world's largest manufacturers join SEQEESTEOM in the greatest public
ity piano advertising contest ever undertaken by any manufacturer.
Free, Four rand Prises
For the first, neatest, correct answer, a $400.00 Piano.
For the Second, neatest, correct answer, a Gent 'a Gold Watch and a manufacturers' check
for $125.00.
For the Third, neatest, cdrrect answer, Ladies' Gold Watch and manufacturers' purchase
check for $125.00.
For the Fourth, neatest, correct answer, Ladles' Diamond Ring and a manufacturers' pur
chase check for $125.00.
CONDITIONS No one connected In aay war ith the piano business la allowed to compete. No one
owning a piano less than eight year old or anyone having been awarded a prize In any of our former con
testa will be eligible. Otherwise this contest la free and open to every man, woman and child In the
United States.
Your opportunity to wla one of the large prises Is as good as anyone'
L3 L-ZZ3
THIO $400 UPRIGHT GRAND PIANO
11323
V4
-eJTi ..a
The Winner of the First Prise In this Great Publicity Contest win recetTe the 9400 Plane Free, or, if
they prefer they can have their choice of either of the other two by paying the difference as abovo. Other
Special Prizes to be awarded in Order,-of Merit.
The Diamond Pnnle.
Instructions How to Solvo
Thlo Puzzlo
Take any number from one to fourteen inclusive; do not use any
number more than twice. Place one number In each ot the nine
squares so that when they are added perpendicularly or horizontally
the total wlU make twenty-seven.
Do not buy a piano now; put your money In the bank, solve this
rebus, win a piano free, or one of th other big prize.
For the neatest, correct answer we will, give absolutely free the
above prises In order ot merit. All prize winners will be notified by
mall and aU prizes must be called for within ten days from closing of
contest. i
These checks are good at any one of onr stores, including St Joseph,
Mo., Minneapolis, Minn., Omaha, Neb., and Rockford, 111., and will ap
ply toward the purchase of any sew piano Just the same aa so much
money.
thine; OF IT!
If yom solve this pazzsle you will receive, IN ADDITION to one of
the above elegant prizes which you get ABSOLUTELY FREE, a bona
fide check, as explained in the last paragraph.
t.... i..nr. h.. .n anviahl. r.nntation In New York. Boston and all the Eastern States, and the
manufacturers believe they can introduce them in this market more quickly and saU.factorlly by giving Ue
people THE SAVING of the enormous expense of an introduction through ordinary methods. Any thinking
person will readily appreciate that any manufacturer of any good piano can well afford to make the above
liberal offer, if by ao doing be can make his instruments as well known in the vicinity during the neit three
or four weeks as would take thr or four years by ordinary methods of advertising.
Thla la the ace of co-operation and the manufacturer of these pianos correctly believes that the best way
to introduce them in this market is to spend the advertising money in making SPECIAL OFFERS TO THE
PEOPLE rather than by employing world-famous demonstrators at a fabulous expense, and making the people
pay for such methods by asking a heavily inflated prloe for the piano. v .
In the event of a Ue for any of the prises, the cash value of the prize will be divided equally between
those tying. .ui wnw itn , ......
ALL CONTESTANTS will receive a vaiuaui pro ivi iuki - - - "Oi
'' wip,imimiii ..i i i amm
0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0
100 song books with music.
RUSH TOUR ANBWER TODAT.
Bend by mall or bring to our store.
In AHrlltlnn tr thn PrlOfl fJnmod AboVO
II I SI a mum w - - -
every prize winner wUl receive, according to the merit of the solution, a bona fide manufacturers' purchase
check for an amount varying from f 16 to 1187. These checks will be accepted by us for their full face value
to aDDlr on the purchase ef any eew piano that we are Introducing to the plano-lovlng public through this
mammoth advertising plan. The above mentioned checks will be given in denominations as follows: Three
at $137.60; three at $116; three at $110; three at $116; three at $110; three at $110; tbree at $100; ten at
$7f : ten at $60; and all correot aolutlona wUl receive a check for $16.
Write your answer plainly and enclose a self-addressed envelope so as to assure against your award be
ing' misdirected. Every contestant will be notified by malL
This. Contest will close on December 1st
Segersfcrorra Piasio Luuffg. o.
1808 Farnam St. Omaha, Hobraska