NEW USE FOR BIPLANE

Evening Star, Issue 15516, 11 June 1914, Page 6

NEW USE FOR BIPLANE

£30,000 EASILY EARNED. Manv roles have already been undertaken by the aeroplane in peace and war, but it lias been left to Russia to lead the way in utilising a flying machine as a hearse. It was the body of Ivan Sopornowsky, a Russian millionaire, which flew to its resting-place. During his life Sopornowsky had often displayed a desire to fly, but when airmen offered to take him as a passenger he could never summon up sufficient courage to seize the opportunity. When he dfod it was found that he had ’ bequeathed £30,000 to any airman who would take his body to the grave via the clouds. He also stipul. Ed that his son should inherit a sum of £70,000 upon the condition that he found an drman who would perform the tvk. A young man, Posow, was appro-iched, and in view of the £3"',000, readily c nsented tc take the coffin in hi- aeroplane Aao-dingly the body was conveyed to the Mo cow aerodrome in a hearse, and there transferred to Posow s pi, lane. In a few minrtes the airman, with his burden, was flying towards th-, churchyard. Darkness was falling wher he landed safely ameng the graves, but policemen who had watched the approach of the machine arrested the airman, and accused him of being a murderer Who sought to evade justice by burying his victim at night in that fashion. Members of the Sopornowsky family however, secured Posow’* release.