Viewing page 53 of 140

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

During the fall of 1911 and the spring of 1912, Mathilde flew in various meets around the country. There was always, however, pressure from her family to give up flying because of the danger, which had been tragically manifested by the death of her brother John. She finally yielded, and her flight on April 14, 1912, at Wichita Falls, Texas, was billed as being her last. It almost literally was. As she landed, her plane burst into flames from a leak in the fuel tank. Spectators ran to the aircraft and pulled Mathilde out, her clothes afire. Her heavy tweed flying costume had no doubt saved her life.

After that incident she did retire, but during World War I she was active in raising money for the Red Cross, her name still being well known.

One of France's leading aviatrices [[aviatrixes]], Hélène Dutrieu, was flying in several U.S. air meets during this time, impressing all who saw her with her altitude and distance flights. She had begun as a trick bicycle rider, turning somersaults in the air as her cycle was in motion. Her first solo airplane flight occurred in 1909, and her American debut took place at the Nassau Boulevard Aviation Meet in 1911.