Skegness Magazine

A DISASTROUS ENDING
£1280 Hydro-Aeroplane Wrecked on Skegness Beach,
Pilot’s Miraculous Escape from Injury,
The Pilot’s Theory of the Accident
” Risked His Life for Others.”
Message of Sympathy to the “Daily Mail” and the Reply.
“NEWS” SPECIAL REPORT
The news that the “Daily Mail” hydro-aeroplane, (similar to the one pictured left) which had been in the town for nearly a week without making flights, was to positively fly last Thursday morning, rapidly spread, and everybody who could possibly manage to do so made their way to the beach and watched with interest the concluding preparations of the machine, which was installed at the rear of Messrs Smyth’s photography saloon just past the Pier entrance.

The previous day instructions had been received from The Daily Mail that the proposed waterplane exhibitions were to be finally abandoned and the machine fitted as a biplane, and flights made to surrounding towns. The reason for this was that the Mail greatly regretted the disappointment sustained by the thousands of excursionists who came down the previous Saturday and Monday, and instructed that the machine was to make flights over every village and town within a certain radius so that the people might witness the novel sight and be compensated to some extent for their
fruitless journey to Skegness. Flights had therefore been arranged to Boston, Louth, and Horncastle, the largest number of villages and hamlets possible to be’ included in the course.

The Programme.
Thursday’s programme had been arranged as follows : M. Francois to give exhibitions over Skegness and then proceed to Boston, whither M. Fischer had already proceeded by motor car in company with Captain Crager, the Mail’s official representative superintending the tour. At Boston M. Fischer would give exhibitions and later fly back to Skegness. On Friday M. Francois would give further exhibitions over the town and later fly to Louth. This programme, however, was destined to be abruptly concluded in its initial stages.

The Preparations for Flight.
By half-past ten on Thursday a crowd of fully two thousand residents and visitors had gathered around the machine or in close proximity, and the final preparations for flight created great interest. Mr. Frank Hucks and M. Francois personally went over every part of the machine, whilst the staff of mechanics greased, oiled and tested until the process became almost monotonous to the expectant crowd. In view of later happenings the painstaking process of fitting up a map of the route before the pilot’s seat bordered almost on the pathetic. A mascot, consisting of a grotesque-looking toy ape, was affixed to the machine.

The Wreck.
At 11.15 the crowd was parted and the machine wheeled out along the sands towards the sea. As soon as the crowd divined its starting point a rush was made to the various points of vantage, and each sand hillock in the near vicinity was quickly occupied, whilst scores more, rushed on to the Pier. Hundreds, of course, followed the machine, and crowded close upon it despite the efforts of the police and officials to keep them within a safe distance. A fresh breeze was blowing almost direct from the North and the “nose” of the machine was turned in that  direction, a bank of shingle being selected for the run.
It may here be noted that Mr. Frank Hucks seemed very dubious of the bank, being the best for the purpose. He put the query to M. Francois as to whether he did not think a long stretch of hard, firm sand over a mile in length nearer the sea (where the machine fell) would not be a better starting point, but the pilot appeared quite satisfied with the former bank and smilingly intimated that it was all right. Our representative noticed that Mr. Hucks, appeared still dubious, and, with many of the crowd, considered the other stretch far and away the better starting point. “He’ll tipple over on that bank with the wind where it is”, remarked a well-known Skegness gentleman. And several more had the same premonition. The right set of wheels were lower than the left and the wind could direct its force on the underside of the left plane. Under the conditions the machine should have tilted the opposite way, if anything. We do not wish to take credit for the apparent wisdom of these remarks now; we commented upon it verbally whilst the engine was being started with Mr. Hucks we were doubtful; pity is that our fears were realised.
At 11.20 the 80 horse power Gnome engine “whirred” with terrific force and M. Francois climbed into the pilot’s, seat. Just prior to releasing the lever he waved his hand, and amid the cheers of the crowd the machine ran along the ground for a distance of 20 yards and then rose. Less than a minute later it lay a hundred yards away a tangled mass of wreckage.
It all happened so quickly as to almost beggar description. The machine had barely risen when it suddenly swerved almost directly round and then accomplished a kind of side somersault movement, crashing with great force on to the beach within 30 yards of the Pier which it would have assuredly dashed into had it reached so far. The machine dropped on its right plane and tail portion, the engine being forced into the sand.

The pilot, who had shut off the engine immediately upon swerving, acted with wonderful presence of mind. Just before the machine struck the sand he turned a complete backward somersault out of the “car” and alighted on his feet without the slightest injury. He drew his hand across his brow, gesticulated distractedly, and commenced talking volubly in the French language with Mr. Frank Hucks who rushed up almost as the machine fell. Needless to say, the crowd was very quickly in evidence around the wreck and heartily cheered the uninjured pilot.

And there it lay. What two minutes before had represented one of the most beautiful and wonderful examples of man’s skill and ingenuity, an invention our great-grandfathers never dreamt of, a truly bewildering complication to the average person, a machine which had cost a sum of £1,280 to erect—there it lay a mass of tangled wires, splintered woodwork, twisted aluminium and torn canvas. It was almost unbelievable that it represented the same machine upon which such elaborate precautions had been expended a short time before. There was not a person in the crowd who did not feel truly sorry, and the feeling of disappointment at not being able to witness a flight merged in a deeper feeling almost akin to personal loss.

The wreckage was hurriedly sorted out and by two o’clock the last fragments had been carted away to the railway station for transmission to Mr. Hucks’ engineering works, where his two remaining waterplanes are also undergoing repairs. Numbers of the spectators secured ” mementos ” in scraps of wood, wirework and canvas. How well Mr. Hucks
and M Francois bore up under the ordeal was evidenced by the fact that they both willingly appended their signatures to scores of portions of canvas which were handed to them by sightseers. Mr. Hucks kindly appended his autograph to a portion for the ” Skegness News.”

The Pilot’s Version.
Interviewed later in the day by a special ” News ” representative M. Francois said the cause of the accident was a man and a child standing directly in the way of his ascent. “If I had gone straight on,” he said, ” I should have certainly
killed them and so I turned sharply to the right and in doing so the wind got under my left plane and it was impossible to keep her balanced as I was then at the mercy of the strong wind. If I had kept in the teeth of the wind and continued on my course, there would not have been an earthly chance for the man and child. My chance was a poor one and I knew it before I took it. I risked my life to save them.” Questioned as to whether he felt any ill effects he replied, ” None whatever – it didn’t even shake me. I got my engine shut off and I thought I could easily get clear. Frightened when I felt myself going? If I had been I’d have lost my nerve and perhaps been killed.”

A Fine Sportsman.
Mr. Hucks, interviewed, said he did not doubt that Francois swerved to miss the man and child, and the swerve to the right allowed the wind to direct its force under the left plane. “However, it can’t be helped now,” he responded cheerily; “and it might have been much worse.”
A thorough sportsman and gentleman was our inward comment. And all who knew or had conversation with Mr. Hucks will cordially agree.
Residents’ Message of Sympathy.

Shortly after the accident the following telegram was despatched to Mr. Valentine Smith, The Daily Mail Offices, Carmelite Street, London;
On behalf of residents and visitors of Skegness please accept our sincere regrets at unfortunate accident to aeroplane today, and are deeply thankful that aviator escaped without injury.
T. Marshall, Chairman of Council.
Geo. H. Randall,
Geo. G. Dunkley.
A reply was received to the following effect :
Town Councillors, Town Hall, Skegness.
Thank you for telegram. Better luck next time.
Valentine Smith,
Daily Mail.

Determined not to Disappoint.
As announced last week the Daily Mail proprietors sincerely regret the disappointment sustained by all those who came to see the waterplane exhibitions. The guarantors’ £120 has been returned, and we are enabled to announce that the Mail has written to Coun. T. Marshall to the effect that they are fully determined that Skegness shall be the venue of exhibitions. All the exhibitions under their control terminated last Saturday for this year, so, of course, it is too late to arrange. Next season they will send down some of their finest aviators and machines and atone in very pronounced manner for this season’s disappointment. Throughout the Mail have acted most honourably and fairly, and its proprietors can be relied upon to make good their word. We can promise some fine flying attractions for next season. Everything comes to those who wait, and next season will, we hope, prove more satisfactory from a weather point of view for such exhibitions.

Disasterettes.
It was M. Francois’ first time of flying for the ” Daily Mail.”
We learn that the engine of the aeroplane is badly damaged.
M. Francois’ wife was not present when the accident occurred. As a matter of fact the lady was in Paris.
It was rumoured that M. Francois had announced his intention of never entering an aeroplane again. He is flying this week in Paris.
Boston people were greatly upset and disappointed when the news of the accident became known. Major Crager and M. Fischer returned by motor-car to Skegness with all speed.
The ” News ” reporter, who is the special correspondent to various provincial newspapers, had the ” wires” at the Post Office first. He despatched his initial message eight minutes after the aeroplane fell.
The photographs which appeared in Saturday’s issue of “The Daily Mirror ” of the wrecking of the ” Daily Mail ” water plane were take : No. 1 by Mr. F. Pinney, High Street, Nos. 2 and 3 by Mr. Coulston, 6 Roman Bank, Skegness.

Mr. S. Coetmore Jones, agent to Lord Scarbrough, was one of the gentlemen who was also very dubious as to the sandbank chosen being the best place for commencing the flight. He personally pointed out to Mr. Hucks the finer stretch afforded on the other side of the creek. M. Hubert, one of the airmen down at Skegness, said he was troubled with nervousness prior to an accident in which he broke both his legs. ” That cured me ” he remarked, “I would rather face an avalanche now.” Captain Crager averred that “the man hasn’t got any nerves.”
A Boston contemporary says :- The visit of the aeroplane to Barnum and Bailey’s field yesterday (Thursday) was advertised on the Cinema on Wednesday night. But the writer mis-spelt ” Barnum ” with a ” D ” and made it ” Darnum! ” A good many people said ” Darn em ” yesterday!

The first telephone message which reached Major Crager at Boston was to the effect that M. Francois had been killed outright; a few minutes later the word “injured ” was substituted for killed ; whilst just later the Major was informed that the aeroplane had fallen 3,000 feet, but the pilot had escaped without injury!
Several of the crowd acted very foolishly in congregating round the machine as they did. One would surmise that recent accidents would have learnt them a lesson. Several who have been loudest in their grumbles at not witnessing a flight and dubbed the proprietors frauds were noticed to be hampering the officials in the greatest degree possible. The police informed numerous persons who refused to move that they (the spectators) would take all risks of personal injury.

Source: Skegness, Mablethorpe and Alford News, 18th September, 1912.

Note: Mr Frank Hucks was the elder brother of B C Hucks, the famous aviation pilot.

A point in the story which particularly interests us is the fact that the piece of canvas autographed by Hucks was secured as a memento by the Skegness News reporter. What happened to it? Does it still exist? Where is it now? The Skegness News was assimilated into the Skegness Standard quite recently so by rights, the memento should now be in the Standard’s archives. According to the story, many, many of mementos were secured. Do YOU know of any still around today?