Our Illustrations.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 21, 25 May 1910, Page 15

Our Illustrations.

TRAGEDY OF THE AIR. M. BE BIXIN'S FATE. /VA I'E BLON was killed on Sntur4 I 1 day, 2nd April, at San Sebas5 I f tian. The monoplane which caused his ' death was the one which killed M. Delagrange at Bordeaux on January 4. Delagrange bequeathed it to Do Bion, who had it repaired and had.been using it ever since. Re made a circle above the bay at an altitude of about 150 feet, but as lie took his turn to come above the aerodrome, It was noticed that his machine seemed to be out of control. At first he tried to glide down, but then the machine buckled completely, and he fell like a stone into the sea from a height of seventy-five feet, with the apparatus on top of him. The few spectators raised cries of hot-

Tor, says an "Express" telegrum. Muir. Bion who had been watching the flight* ’‘bricked •‘He te lust’” rushed about in a demented fashion, and was taken eventually to the ambulance station, whither the body was brought. As Le Bion s was an unadvertised flight, the usual boats were not on duty in the bay, and it was some minutes before a motor boat put off to the spot where the wreck of the aeroplane was floating, and Bion’s body was recovered. It is believed that ho was held down by the wreck ami drowned. Mme. Jx' Bion had to he dragged from her husband's body after it was taken to the ambulance station. M. Le Bion, who was born in .1872, was a • yelist and a chauffeur before he was an aviator. He was a working mechanic until three years ago, when he became the favourite pupil of M. Dola grange, with Whom he made Hights at Doncaster last year.