James C. Mars ( -1911)
MR. J. C. MARS ( -1911), the American aviator whose death is just announced from America, was the first airman to give really successful exhibitions of flying in Japan. Mr. Mars had the honour of taking up the first lady passenger to fly in Japan, this lady, Mrs. Manwaring, making her flight nonchalantly seated on one of the planes. [1]
"Bud" Mars Meets With Fatal Accident. A FATAL accident which befell Mr. J. C. Mars at Erie, Pa., on Friday last, put a period to one of the most promising flying careers in the United States. The aviator had shown himself to be a most daring pilot of the Curtiss type of biplane, and had met with considerable success both in America and during a recent visit to Japan. On the occasion when he met his death he had just arrived from Chicago, and, although the wind was very troublesome, he did not wish to disappoint the crowd, and so decided to go up. A first flight of a few minutes duration was made successfully, and it was during a second attempt that the accident happened. He was at a height of 500 ft. when the machine first appeared to be out of control. It was then seen to straighten up, and descended all right to within a short distance of the ground, when it fell sideways, pinning the aviator beneath the wreck. [2]