NORTON, William Asbury
Date of death: 4 Sep 1916 Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois
Connersville Evening News, (Connerville, Fayette, Indiana) September 6, 1916
AERONAUT
Killed in Parachute Leap
in Illinois
First Ascent of the Year
is Fatal to William D. Norton
Fell Five
Hundred Feet.
Franklin, Ind., Sept. 5.— The body of William D. Norton; 36 years old, who was killed in making a parachute jump at Murphysboro, Illinois, yesterday, was brought to this city, today, for burial. Norton was making his first balloon ascension this year, after recovering from burns sustained while operating a traction engine. He attempted a double parachute leap. The first parachute opened at a height of 1,200 feet, but the second did not, and Norton fell 500 feet. He died an hour later. The accident was the first serious one suffered by Norton in his six years’ work with balloons. His brother-in-law, Luther Dennis, also is a parachute jumper and is engaged this week at Vincennes. Norton leaves a widow and four children here.
Submitted by shawcross