The Washington herald., 1912-06-12

5o-horsepoEer type. The machine had
been at the aviation field about a month.
Several dozen flights had been made in
It at College Park. The machine weighed
about 1000 pounds.
Aviation Deaths in Array.
The death Of Lieut.. Hazlehurst yester-
day afternoon makes the third fatal ac-
cident in the history Of army aviation In
the United States. The first army oficer
to sacrifice his life In the advancement
Of army aviation was Lieut. Selfridge,
who was killed in September, 1908, &
/ Fort Myer, Va, when a Wright biplane
collapsed and plunged to the ground
Capt Hennessy was one Of the first men
to rush to the machine after 1t fell
| The second oficer to sacrifice his life
on the altar OF advancement In aviation
was Lieut. John Kelley, who was killed
at San Antonio, Tex, in March, ISL
Capt Hennessy was one Of the first Of
hcers TO reach the side Of Kelley fol-
lowing that fatal accident
Prior to coming to the aviation school
at College Park. Lieut. Hazlehurst was
stationed at Fort oglethorpe. Ga. He
had been at the aviation school only
/ few months.
When in washington not long ago,
Orville Wright said that welsh was one
Of the best aviation instructors his COM
pany had ever employed.
Capt. ChandIer's Report.
Capt Chandler, In his preliminary re-
port to the War Department, stated that
he could give no reason for the accident,
and did not believe that 1t could be
| traceable TO negligence on the part Of
any one or TO inefficient OF unskillful
operation OF the biplane- he stated that
| the machine had tust been launched. and
was scarcely half wav around the aeld,
making a speed OF between forty and
fifty miles, perhaps, when IL suddenly
dropped. When the wreck was reached
by him and other officers, within half
minute. both men were dead.
Capt. Chandler, in speaking Of the ac-
cident, said: The accident, resulting in
the death Of the two men. is such a
shock to me that I am really at loss
to speak Of it. 1t Is greatly to be re-
Gretted and all OF US officers connected
with the school are overcome with sor-
row. do rot believe any one is to blame.
Unfortunately, II is a heavy toll to pay
for the development OF a new science.
It was a new type OF machine, supposed
to be stronger, more powerful, and faster
than any We have. Undoubtedly, II pos
sessed some weakness that escaped the
careful scrutiny Of expert mechsnicians."
Gen. Wood IL shocked.
Gen. Leonard Wood, Chief Of Stan Of
the army, was greatly shocked last night
when he was apprized Of the catastrophe.
TT is indeed a most unfortunate acci-
dent" he said The War Department Is
greatly shocked and deeply regrets that
such a heavy price must be paid for
the development Of this part OF military
science. The accident certainly was ,un-
foreseen. and, so far as can be deter
mined at this moment, was unprevent-
able. have personally observed the
work Of the aviators at the College Park
School and elsewhere several times, and
have always been impressed with the
strict manner in which they have obeyed
the departments injUnctions for taking
every possible precaution in their work.
The science OF aviation is new in the
American army, as compared with those
Of some other nations; but we have made
marked progress and perhaps have
achieved more than most of the other
armies, although by our appropriations
we are limited in the scope Of our work.
Lieut.. Hazelhurst was a bright and effi-
cient young officer, only a few years out
Of the Military Academy, and his death
is distinct loss to his fellow officers and
the War Department"
The aviation school is operated di-
rectly under the supervision OF the
Signal Corps OF the War Department,
so Inspector General Darlington will
be directed to detail an oficer from his
department to be present at the inves-
tigation TO be conducted this morning
by the board. II the report of the
board and the inspector should be to
the effect that any surviving oficer
or other person was in any way re-
sponsible for the fatal accident, a
higher board will be appointed by the
War Department. composed of officers
having no connection with the avia-
ton school. Authorities last night
were of the opinion that no one was
responsible for the accident.