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Title: Coup de Berlin |
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Description: This 1910 print, part of a triptych series by the illustrator, Gamy, shows Henry Rougier winning the Berlin Cup in his Voisin biplane. Rougier began his career as a race car driver and later made his way into the field of aeroplane racing. By 1910 the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco was paying Rougier 400 francs a day to fly back and forth over the Mediterranean. After making five flights over the Mediterranean Rougier was expected to outstrip the other entrants in over sea flights. An expectation that Rougier failed to fulfill when he did not win any prizes and instead had a near fatal accident. In Nice on April 18 1910 Rougier fell 250 feet landing in the Mediterranean Sea. Rougier was thrust 15 feet under water. He surfaced twice, became tangled in debris, and was forced back under. On his third attempt Rougier freed himself from the wreckage of his Voisin biplane. Much to the relief on onlookers, Rougier swam ashore. Rougier fainted twice but regained a few days later. The Voisin biplane was wrecked from the accident, but the E.N.V. engine proved to be salvageable. A French diver located the engine which was later hauled to the surface. |
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