ROSS SMITH'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 7

ROSS SMITH'S DEATH.

AN INEXPLICABLE MISHAP. A BROTHER'S ORDEAL. (By Cabie—Preas Asaociation —Copyright.) (Auatralian and N.Z. Cabin Association.) LONDON, April 13. A special representative of the Australian Press Association was to have accompanied Sir Ross Smith on the first trial flight, but Sir Ross said: "Sorry, old man, but there is no room. You will get a better view from the other 'plane." The correspondent ascended in a Vernon machine, which kept company with the other machine. Descending, the representative watched Sir Ross Smith's second flight. With the representative was Sir Keith Smith, who arrived too late to accompany his brother. "When the machine developed a spinning nose-dive, and was uncontrollable," says the correspondent, "Sir Keith Smith buried his face in his hands and flung himself on the earth to avoid seeing his brother crash to a terrible fate. When the end came he groaned: 'lt's all up. Oh, my poor father and mother. This will kill them.' He then insisted on going across to see the wreckage. On the way he said: 'lf only it had been me instead of Rosa. If I'd only been there too—what a ghastly finale.' Sir Ross SmitlTs forehead was terribly bruised, and there was a dreadful gash on the left cheek. "Fifty feet from earth the aviator cut out the engine and made a great swoop, like a wounded bird trying to get away. Then came the end, which was mercifully hidden from us by the banked racing track. Sir Keith Smith examined the machine carefully after the accident, but failed to discover the cause. He said: 'These spins are generally due to tail trouble, but it is not tail trouble this time.' "

AVhilo motoring back to London, the correspondent urged Sir Keith to give up flying, but he gave a typically gallant reply: "We must not lose our nerve." Continuing his story, the correspondent says: "Just before going up Sir Ross had a talk with me. He said: 'lf anything goes wrong with the world flight, don't complain or blame anyone. That is the last thing in the world I would desire. We are taking the risk knowing the danger, and, remember, Australians never squeal.'" Sir Keith Smith declared that his brother died as he would have desired—in harness, with a sharp, sudden, headlong dive to earth, and ijying before he, knew the bitterness of defeat. He proposes to take both bodies to Australia. FIRST TIME IN CONTROL. LONDON, April 14. Sir Ross Smith accompanied Captain Cockerill on the trial trip as a passenger, but the flight on which he met his death was the first time he handled the controls of the Vickers amphibian, which recently won the £IO,OOO Government prize. No one saw the actual crash, as the spot is hidden by a clump of big firs. Whert the onlookers reached the spot, Bennett was moaning, but he died as ho was being taken from the wreckage. The fabric was torn off the machine, which was so wrenched that the propellers, which were split in two, lay facing inwards. Captain Cockerill says he is unable to explain the accident.. When questioned, he said the machine was new to Sir Ross Smith, and also that the latter had had some months of comparative inactivity from flying. The situation was something like that of a man With a new mount in the first run of the hunting season. Other experts are doubtful whether the cause was engine failure of whether the pilot did not allow sufficient height for flattening out after the spin. The manager of the Brooklands motor works says that if Sir Roes Smith had had an extra 100 feet he could have righted the aeroplane. Another observer says the engine stopped, but this is not confirmed. The bodies will be embalmed and taken to Australia for a State funeral.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. WOBLD FLIGHT CANCELLED. (Received April 16th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 15. Universal tributes are paid by all the British, French, and Continental newspapers to Sir Ross Smith's daring and resourcefulness. The coroner at the inquest at Weybridge on Sir Ross Smith and Lieutenant Bennett said it was an exceedingly sad case. He sympathised not only with the relatives, but aviation interests. Australia had lost one of her best 'flying boys, who had done good service to the Empire. Mr Muller, superintendent of Vickers, Ltd., at Brooklands, gave evidence that the machine was perfect, and the fact that Sir Ross Smlith got her out of her spin half-way down proved that the controls were intact. Captain Cockerill stated that he handed the machine to Sir Ross Smith after half-an-hour's flight. He climbed from the machine leaving the engine running. Sir Ross Smith took his seat and flew off. The deceased knew the machine perfectly. I'he only thing which attracted witness's attention was that when' Sir Ross Smith shut off the engine and was in a spin, the machine was not running. A verdict was returned of death by misadventure. It is announced that Sir Keith Smith will not carry out the world flight.

TJNIVBBSAL BEGBET. MELBOURNE, April 15. Mr Hughes lias despatched a message expressing the sympathy of the Commonwealth with the parents oi Sir Ross Smith. Numerous other tributes are being received. PARIS, April 14. All the newspapers contain appreciative sympathetic* articles. The "Petit Parisien" says the world profoundly grieves at the tragedy which has oraat foot of next column.)

whelmed the greatest master of the air. SYDNEY, April 15. Sir Joseph Cook, Australian High Commissioner, who is at Genoa, in a message pf sympathy in connexion with Sir Ross Smith, said: "The air has lost a sovereign and Australia one of her finest sons." (Received Anril 16th, 5.5 p.m.) ADELAIDE, April 15. Sir Ross Smith's death, shocked the community. Flags we're half-masted. There were many references at the Good Friday services. Sir Keith Smith cabled the news to a friend, who broke it to the parents. The latter were deeply stricken at the loss of their famous son. Messages of sympathy are pouring in from all sides. NEW ZEALAND'S SYMPATHY. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, ApriM6. The following cable message has been sent by his Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Jellicoe, to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth:—Deeply regret to learn of the tragic death of Sir Ross Smith, ending as it does u career of brilliant achievement and still more brilliant promise. On behalf of this Dominion, I beg to express sincere sympathy with the relatives of Sip Ross Smith and Lieutenant Bennett in their sad bereavement."