SEGRAVE'S FORESIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 49, 26 August 1930, Page 3

SEGRAVE'S FORESIGHT.

DANGER OF WRECKAGE

"Speed will be the keynote of the world in future, and this country hai got to lead if it is going to live," wrote; Sir Henry Segrave, who met his death' attempting to achieve the motor-boat speed record at Lake Windermere on' Friday, 13th June. The article from his pen containing this.declaration appeared in the "Sunday Express" beside the notice of his tragic fate.

"When an accident happens, it is no use saying 'What's the use,' " concontinued Sir Henry. "There is a use. It has taught someone something, and. the lesson learned may be -worth, all the risk and all the loss. I know, for example, perfectly well that I shall face certain risks when I try to do 100. miles an hour on water. For example, there is a definite risk that the re« volutions of the propeller at that speed may fail to drive the boat forward, but revolve it instead—the-tail wagging the dog with a vengeance.- In. that case my crew and I will hit the water as hard as if we had been flung against a brick wall—and we shall be flattened as flat as biscuits. Water a* that speed is as hard as rock.

"Thero is another risk, the-danger of floating wreckage. A bottle, a piece of wood—either would Bo" sufficiently solid to pierce the hull like » Imllet if we hit them at such a speed. Even a fish might "be a danger.

"Then the risk of the propeller breaking is oven more serious. It might cause a deflection, of,,course which Tronic! result in the, boat cap-

sizing. '■'But It is all part of the game."