The Washington times., 1912-09-12
CAPITAL AVIATOR
FALLS TO DEATH
IN OWN B|PLANE
Drop of 200 Feet at Chicago
Ends Paul Peck's
Career.
f. CONTINUED on Fifth Page.)

, l (Continued on Fifth Page)
reached an altitude OF 800 feet he gayly
I, tried a spiral glide
1t is said the biplane worked itself in
to too small "corkscrew'' motion. II
slid In toward the center OF the vortex,
and when he was within two hundred
feet Of the ground gust of wind en-
tirely broke its slight grip" on the air.
1t fell crashing, like a plummet, and
Peck was buried In the debris, with
the Gyro engine on top of him. Ex-
perts say he would have lived had not
the heavy weight of the engine fallen
upon him.
At st. Anthony de Padua Hospital an
examination showed surgeons there was
20 chance Of his surviving. He died
here about five hours after the fall.
.ie requested some months ago that IL
he ever were killed while flying his body
should be brought to Washington.
Devoted to Youngster.
six-month-old babe, motherless and
at the home of his grandmother. 1924 r
street northwest, blissfully unconscious
of the fact that he was an orphan.
1t was Paul Peck, jr., son to whom
the aviator was devoted, and for
whose sake he had promised his rela-
tives to give up the flying game" en-
tirely at the end of this summer
I'VE have been expecting this all
summer" said Miss BERTHE Peck. sister
of the flyer, and a nurse at George
Washington Hospital. She Immediate
ly got into touch with her parents at
Sullivan, w. Va.
Paul Peck was born in Ansted, w.
Va, twenty-three years ago. When
eleven yerafs of age he came to WASH
ington to attend school, and for several
years was associated with his uncle
Samuel j. Masters, a real estate and in
vestment broker. In business. He left
to become engaged in the automobile
business, and In the spring of 1911 he
became associated with the Rex Smith
daring, resourceful birdman soon spread
beyond Washington.
He organized the Columbia Aeroplane
Company, and displayed great executive
ability, in addition to his purely avia-
tory achievements. He set himself tine
task of advertising and demonstrating
the machine, which he believed to be
the best manufactured in America. On
his recent trip through the West it is
said he cleared more than $1,000 a
month.
Mrs. Elizabeth Owens, his mother-in-
law; his sister. uncle, and infant son
are his only relatives in this city. With
his parents, two younger brothers live
In Sullivan. w. Va.
Year In the Business.
Paul Peck had been flying steadily for
more than year. learning the secrets
Of the game at College Park with the
army. In nine days he mastered a
machine. believed to be a record for
passing the test. Last winter he went
with the United States Army aviators
to Augusta. Ga. Since that time he had
done exhibition flying. When he made
some flights in West Virginia, recently,
Governor Glasscock made him a colonel
on his staff.
In notable flights Peck circled around
the dome Of the Capitol last May. and
was regarded as the most skilfull aero
pianist at College Park. Last May he
made a remarkable flight at Nassau
boulevard aviation field. on Long ISL
and. N. Y. when he set new Ameri-
tventy-three minutes and fifteen sec
onds. Before he descended he was
caught In gale; then went UP to an
altitude of 5000 feet. Helpers below
built. huge bonfires to aid him in his
descent
CHICAGO. Sept. 12.-The death of
Paul Peck, who fell 200 feet while at
tempting a spiral glide in his Columbia
gyro biplane, will not interfere with the
staging of today's aeropIane meet at the
b Cicero aviation field. said the promoters.
The events, 1t was said, would begin
as scheduled at p. m. and continue to
p. m.
In fact, 1t was expected that the IA
tally would lend an element of interest
to the meet which 1t would otherwise
have lacked. owing to the absence of
well-known aviators.