Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-06-12
One Was ARMY OFFICER
AND THE OTHER WAS OFFICER
GIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO
ARMY MEN.
Cause NOT Determined
Wings of the Machine Collapsed as tho
ANintors We're Making Terrific
Dip Towards the Earth.

WASHINGTON, June ll.-Another
fearful toll was taken by aviation to-
night when the mutiated bodies OF
Lieutenant Leighton W. lla2clhurst,
Jr, seventeenth infantry 4. 5. A., ana
Alfred l.. Wclch, a professional ayla-
tor in the employ Of the Wright
brothers, were taken from under the
debris Of collapsed aeroplane. This
accident occurred while they were at
tempting 10 make the tests required
by the government In "a machine con.
triTted for boy the war department.
Although an urmy board was Inn
mediatcly appointed 10 determine tho
cause of the accident it is probable
the real cause of the machines failure
never viii be known. The crash came
so suddenly and Unexpectedly that tho
two men met their death without being
able to make a single move to arrest
their fall. Seven army airmen wero
among the score of spectators, but
they cannot explain the accident.
Met All Requirements.
II was shortly after o'clock that
the Wright machine was run out in
front of the long line of hangers. For
several days Aviator WEIGH, whose
home is in this city, had been busy
demonstrating the aeroplane. All tho
war departments requirements had
been met except climb of 1000 feet
within ten minutes. carrying a load OF
$50 pounds. Welch knew the machine
was capable OF meeting the test for 1t
had been accomplished at Dayton.
ohio, by Orville Wright before Il was
taken to College park and he had been
made impatient by delays.
I'm going to make that climb to-
night or know the reason why no
Sid as he began to tune up. Il am
tired Of fooling,' he added.
A few minutes later he announced
he was ready.
Lieutenant Hazelhurst followed
Welch into the machine, taking the
passengers seat. The aeroplane moved
off steadily and flew the length of the
field, rising 200 feet. AS II was turn
ed toward the group of army officers
before the hangers, Welch dipped
sharply TO indicate to the official timer
that he was ready for the stiff test
climb.
Both Killed Instantly.
lHt UP tuIIlUI lHt HldtHlnt To
within about IS feet of the ground
and 1t then Strengthened out sharply,
too quickly. the observing army Off
GERS thought. without warning the
aluminium wings crumpled or collapsed
upward so that they almost met above
the engine. The machine dropped.
then turned her nose toward the earth
and diyed.
The accident occurred about 1000
feet from the hangers and when the
first witness reached the wreck il
was seen that both of the men wero
dead. Welch was buried in the debris
but the body of HaZelhurst had been
thrown fully 20 feet away after tho
machine struck. Welchs clothes were
practically all torn from his body
which was bruised and battered Ha-
skull was fractured and his
head badly disfigured
Death to both Of the men probably
had been instantaneous. Their bodies
were rushed in army automobiles 10
the Walter Reed hospital in this city.
Five minutes after the flight began
the flag over the aviation field was at
half mast.
Appoint Board of Inquiry.
Captain Charles De T. Chandler.
commanding the army aviation corps,
at once convened a board of inquiry
of seven army officers who
had been witnesses to the catastrophe.
A preliminary inquest showed little
light upon the cause of the tragedy
as nightfall made it necessary to post
pOne the investigation until tomor-
row.
The officers who are making the In.
yestigation are Captain f. b. Hennes-
sy, Captain Paul w. Beck; Lieutenants
Harry Graham, l.. G. Kirkland and T.
ID. Milling Lieutenant William c.
Sherman Of the engineer school, Wash
ington, and Lieutenant b. d. Foulois.
an army aviator will be among the
important witnesses. AS the gathering
dusk made impossible "A careful exam
nation Of the wrecked machine 1t was
kept intact tonight in the hope that 4
fuller examination tomorrow might
reveal the cause Of the accident.
Had Many New Features.
Many new features was embodied
in the machine. evolved as a result of
Orvlle Wrlghts experiments at XIII
Devil HILL \. c., last summer. The
Wright brothers always built compara-
lively slow craft, hut the government
required that the new machine should
make i5 miles an hour In speed
trials several days ago sos miles was
attained. IL was estimated that II was
about 45 miles an hour when
the fatal plunge came, The wings OF
the craft were Of aluminium, instead
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