Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1911 — AVIATOR ELY IS KILLED BY FALL [ARTICLE]

AVIATOR ELY IS KILLED BY FALL

Drops Suddenly to Ground in Exhibition Flight. FATAL ACCIDENT AT MACON, 6A. Machine’s Plunge Lands Him Mortally Wounded, and He Expires at the Hospital—Took Part In Chicago Meeting. Macon, Ga., Oct. 20. —While making a flight at the state fair grounds at 2:55 p. m., Eugene Ely, the aviator, fell, and was So seriously hurt that death ensued within a quarter of an hour. He was rushed to a hospital in an. .unconscious condition, bloody and with broken limbs. He had just arisen from the ground and was making his first turn, in a dip over the crowd, when his machine plunged quickly. , Ely died eleven minutes after he struck the earth. He regained consciousness just before the end, long enough to mutter: “I lost control — I know I am going to die.” Eugene Ely was a daring and skillful handler of the biplane and was one of the stellar performers at the recent aviation meet in Chicago. He gained fame last January by flying from land to the deck of a battleship, alighting on a platform built on the ship and flying back as he had come. He was the first to attempt a flight from Chicago to New York, «» year ago, but gave it up after a few miles' of travel. Ely accomplished a good many noteworthy things in his three years of flying. He took part in most of the Lig tournaments and has earned a place among the most distinguished aviators of the world. This was the first time that Mrs. Ely had missed seeing her husband fly. She had returned to New York from Davenport, la., his home town, where he had made flights before going to Macon. He was to have come on today to join her. She was notified of his death through Mrs. Charles Willard, the wife of another aviator. She fainted when she heard the news. Twice before Ely had been reported dead, once at Canton, 0., and again at Winnipeg, Can. Through these reports Mrs. Ely became known about the flying grounds as the “little widow.” Ely was born in Davenport, la., Oct 21, 1885, but spent the better part of his life in California. Before going into the flying business he was an automobile driver. He was a self-taught aviator. The death of Ely brings the list of fatilities caused by aeroplane accidents up to 101. In 1908, one man lost his life; in 1909, four; in 1910, thirtytwo and, up to date in the present year sixty-four persons have been killed.