Jacksonville, Fla. May 1—Miss Bessie Coleman, the daring and accomplished colored aviatrix, was instantly killed when losing control of her plane, it turned over two thousand feet in the air. and she, together with D. W. Wills, white, her publicity director, were dashed to death, while making a practice flight preparatory to an exhibition she was to hold here Saturday under the auspices of the Negro Welfare League of this city.
Miss Coleman was known internationally for her skill and daring as a flyer. She had won her pilot’s license abroad where she had learned to fly after failing to gain the opportunity ago [ed: sentence fragment out of place] There she became a manicurist working along Chicago’s famous stroll. in her own country. After obtaining her license, however, she had returned to America, where she has been much in demand for exhibition flying.
Miss Coleman, who was twenty-four went to Chicago to reside many years years old, was a native of Texas, but [ed: sentence out of order] It was while engaged at this service that she met a Spaniard who it is said made it possible for her to pursue her studies in aviation, subquent to the World War.
The fatal accident Friday was the second of a grave nature that Miss Coleman had encountered. Three years ago her plane toppled during exhibition in Los Angeles and she was picked up from the field with three ribs and a leg broken. Friends at that time and ever since cautioned her against her dangerous avocation, but she persisted and promised just before leaving Chicago on this last trip that after a few exhibitions she was going to give up flying and confine herself to lecturing.
Miss Coleman had been married. Her husband, a man by the name of Glenn, now lives and works in Chicago. She is also survived by a mother and sister, Miss Georgia Coleman, who also resides in Chicago.
The remains were sent to Chicago for burial.
She visited Savanah a few months ago.
The Savannah Tribune, Savannah, GA, May 6, 1926