In 1911, Monsier Telchett, a tailor, made a spring-loaded batwing cape. In December of that year, he requested and obtained permission from the Eiffel Tower's management to leap from the first platform to test his flying suit. When he took his first look down, he tried to weasel out, but members of the press and his so-called friends goaded him into jumping. His useless wings buckled and rather than fly, he plummetted. Seconds later, Telchett lay in a wile E coyote style hole one foot deep. He was the first person to die by intentionally jumping off the Tower.