“WIZARD” STONE’S MISHAP.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 145, 4 June 1913, Page 5

“WIZARD” STONE’S MISHAP.

MONOPLANE STRIKES TREE. MACHINE SMASHED TO FRAGMENTS. AVIATOR CONSIDERABLY hurt. Great public sympathy is extended to "Wizard” Stone in the loss and personal injuries he has sustained as the result of the tall he experienced while in flight at the Napier Park racecourse yesterday afternoon. At the time fixed for the ascent, a strong north-westerly wind, increasing at times to great velocity, was prevailing, and it was very evident Lo the majority of people assembled to witness the Hight that lhe day was most unsuitable for aviation.

"Mill lie go upt” was the enquiry heard on all sides. At the racecourse gates the public- divided itself into two sections, the true sports paying their entrance fee, and the others, lacking in generosity and sportsmanship, keeping their money in their pockets, stayed outside the fence on the dead certain chance of seeing the flight if the aviator took the risk, at no cost to themselves.

As a curtain raiser, Mr. Cornwall appeared in his strange looking speed motor car ,and let her put. ao much as the nature of the course would permit, doing' a round or two at about 50 miles an hour. Shortly after 3.30 the aviatoi brought out of the large tent the monoplane —a very pretty thing to look out. with its beautifully cowpact engine of 75 horse-power, and the fittings looking spick and span-— and a troop of Boy Scouts wheeled it to the cente of the course, the proceedings being watched with the keenest interest by the spectators. It was then taken to the northern end of the grounds and preparations were made for the ascent. Whilst the final adjustments were being made. Wizard Stone and his assistant were seen to cast dubious glances heavenward. and it was very clear that they both realised the danger of attempting an ascent in such an uncertain ami treacherous wind. However. tlie crowd was out to see the flight, and this weighed greater in Wizard Stone’s mind than his own personal safety, and he preferred to risk his life sooner than be considered a ‘-cocktail” by a few thoughtless people tliat may have been among the onlookers. It is wrong thaj the decision should be left to the aviator himself. He is left in the invidious position of being compelled to take unreasonable risks or be made the target for the abuse of unreasonable people who want their money’s worth at no matter whose cost. Wizard Stone preferred to trust himself to the whims of the wind rather than risk the scorn of fickle public opinion. He took his seat in the monoplane—a machine a network rf wires and the planes looking like the wings of some monstrous bird. The engine was set in motion, lhe whirring noise of the propeller being heard quite a longdistance away. Then with a sudden report the monoplane got in motion and after flitting along the ground for some distance the aviator commenced the ascent. The aviator lifted his machine sharply to a height of about forty feet in order to clear a fence and then descended a little, the machine running beautifully and rising like a bird. When directly opposite the large grandstand a sudden gust of wind caught the v. i*igs and turned it very sharply round. apparently out of control for the time being. The machine then ’planed gracefully towards the north east, ail the time getting gradually nearer to the ground. . Over the lake on the course, the tail of the monoplane was a very’ little distance off the ground. It then swept along, caught in some small willow trees! and broke the control levers of the rudder and small rear* planes. damage caused the machine to overbalance in front, and with a report like a gun she crashed into the bank.

The onlookers were horror struck for a few moments. Recovering, the crowd stampeded towards the wrecked machine, and everybody was relieved to see the aviator emerge from the debris. He stood there covered with sand, and looking very pale, and the crowd finding that lie was apparently not. fatally hurt. let out. a shout of gladness, tolIcwcd by three hearty cheers for the plucky aviate. An inspection of the wrecked machine revealed that the right plane, which .struck the ground first, was b.-idlv broken and lay under the machine, while the woodw-ork surrounding -be engine and the frame were splint <.'red to matchwood. The propelior was also broken io pieces. Several of the rods connected with the engine were bent, but the engine itself was undamaged. Wizard Stone escaped with a very severe sbosk and a broken collarbone In view cf the complete wreck of the machine it was plain lie had a marvellous escape from, instant death, for ail around the seat were jagged ends of splintered timber upon which lie might have easily been thrown and impaled.

The aviator is -.-ery regretful about the damage done io his machine. It will be fully’ six weeks before repairs can be effected. He has another monoplane now on its wav out from France to .Australia. Interviewed last night. Mr. Stone said he attributed his accident solely to the tricky wind. “After I turned, he said, “I hardly got straight again, and the wind came downwards from behind me. forcing the machine towards the ground. He has had 15 “smashes.” His longest flight was from Paris to Pau. a distance of 501 miles, in 19’i'. His records show tliat he has competed in imnierotis races. After yesterday's experience. Air. Stone considers tliat New Zealand is not an ideal plan.' iw' flying at this time of Hu' yea l .', and slmrtlv leaving for Australia, returning to the Dcmuvnii attaiii i’’ December.