New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-14
Passenger in Monop|ane Driven
by E. V. Fisher, at Brook.
lands. EngIand-Both
Men Meet Death.
WRECKAGE CATCHES FIRE
American Pinned Under Fallen
Plane Was Formerly an Off
cial in Washington and Was
a Prominent Resident
of Passaic, N. J.

an American identified with extensive
mining interests and at ono time pri-
vate secretary to the American Secre-
tary of War. General r. A. Alger, and
TO his successor, Elihu Root, was killed
to-day while making a fight at Brook
lands with the English aviator, T.. V.
Fisher. Fisher also was killed by bein.
pitched out of the machine when at a
height Of about 80 feet.
Fisher was about 70 give an exhibition
and picked Mr. Mason rs a passenger
from among the spectators They cir
cled the track once, when. eyewitnesses
say, the machine, which was A mono~
plane, made an abrupt turn. II wav-
cred moment and then fell straight I'd
the earth.
The sudden stoppage in the air threw
Fisher headlong from his seat Mason
was pinned beneath the wreckage. which
caught fire. and he was badly burned
before being cxtricated Physicians
state that both men died almost immc-
diately.
T. -. VI. SOpwith was also flying
around the grounds with a passenger at
the time and witnessed the accident He
flew in the direction Of the wrecked ma
chine and alighted close beside il. The
two men tried their utmost 10 beat down
the flames.
In the mean time the crowd rushed to
the spot, and extinguishers were applied.
but when the flames were quenched the
machine was almost destroyed
Fishers body was found twenty yards
away. His neck was broken. Among the
spectators were Flanders. owner of the
monoplane. and Commander Samson.
who made a notable hydro-aeroplane
fight at Weymouth last week.
According to one report. Mr.. Mason
was a friend of Commander Samson.
The latter accompanied him 10 the
grounds and. the account says, arranged
for the flight with Fisher.
1t is surmised that some fault deve,-
oped in the engine of the aeroplane
which caused the accident, as the
weather conditions we're perfect. Th@
bodies were removed to a mortuary ~
await an inquest, which probably will be
held on Wednesday.
Fisher was regarded as daring av;-
ator. He had met with number Of ac-
cidents, one in October last. in which
he was rendered unconscious. his pas
senger being badly injured. On another
occasion. after a cycling accident. Fish sr
made flight with one arm strapped 10
his side
Mr.. Mason. who had been staying at
the Carlton Hotel for some weeks, saun-
tered into the lobby after luncheon and
said to the manager: Il have nothing
special 70 do this afternoon; where would
YOU advise me to go?"
The manager said why not go 10
Brookands and see the iying?'
Mr.. Mason replied: I've never seen
that. l think I will"
Soon afterward a telephone message
was received at the hotel that Mr.. Ma
son was killed.
Victor Louis Mason was a prominent
resident Of Passaic. ~ J. He was born in
Washington In 1870. lie served as private
secretary 10 Secretaries Ager and Root In
the War Department in 1922. lie was
alternate delegate to the Republican Ma
tional convention at Chicago IN 1875. and
was associated with General ASer IN Do
troit from lSq9 to 1902. He was assistant
secretary of the Republican National Conn
mittee in charge OF the Eastern division
campaign Of 1905.
Mr. Mason was member of the New
York and New Jersey Interstate Bridge
Commission from 1905 to 1905 He was vice.
president OF the Development Company OF
America. director OF the Imperial Copper
company. Of she Tombstone Consolidated
Mining Company. the Poland MiSinS COM
pany and the ella Copper Suphide Com
pany and president Of tho Passaic Board ot
Trade He was also member Of many
clubs.
Last December Mr.. Mason went 10 Eng
land to float bond issue of So, 900 to be
used i'm building the railroad. Mr. Mason
had succeeded in disposng Of the bond is.
sue and was finishing up some minor de-
tails Mr.. Mason then booked his passage
to return on the maiden trip OF the Titanic.
Business pressure. however, forced him 10
cancel his pa ssage a few hours before the
ship sailed
His wife was Miss Daisy Comstock
Simons. OF Washington Mrs. Mason and
three children-Annette. twelve: Helena.
ten. and Victor, three and half years Old
survive him.
The two deaths recorded above raise 10
thirtv-fiv the number of aviation fatalities
I'm 1872 The number Of lives sacrificed 10
since the death Of Lieutenant
Selfridge in 1905, is now lS6. Hans
SchmiSulski, who fell 300 feet at CasseL
Prussia. on Sunday last. was the last pre-
vious victim
BY Cable TO The Tribune