New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02

fore the wind the great plane checked
IT'S course. futtered a second like Il
wounded bird and plunged below the
line of trees.
1t is thought by Parmalee's mechan-
icians that a sudden gust from one OF
the draws or small canyons that notch
.he sides of the valley struck the ma
chine and rendered the elevating planes
unmanageable.
The body Of the aviator was dragged
from the wreckage of the machine by
farmers who were working in the or
chard His skull was fractured and he
must have died instantly.
Before he prepared for his last flight
Parmalee was urged to postpone the eX-
hlbition, at least until the wind quieted'
but he laughed at the persistent and
fatal misfortune that had logged avla-
tors for the last week and climbed -
his seat.
J. Clifford Turpin is on his way TO
Seattle TO take charge Of Parmalee'S
body,
The biplane was so crushed that mech'
anicians were unable to trace definitely
the cause of it's fall.
Parmalee was regarded by experts as
thu safest" Of American aviators as
well as the most successful financially
of those employed by the Wrights. He
was said to have earned Sl91,OoO fcr
the Wright brothers during 10ll and he
quit their employ only few weeks ago.
having been connected with them for
TWO years
His last words before leaving Los An
xeles for North Yakima were to the
effect that while employed by the
Wrjghts he had never broken stick.
IN aviation slang that means that he
never had an accident that required the
replacing of any part Of his biplane.
When Parmalee and ]. Clifford Tur-
pin came here two weeks ago, atte:'
spending eight months in Los Angeles
thew brought with them two tractor
biplanes," which were built under Par-
nlalee's supervision in Los Angeles.
Parrnalee was born at ST. Johns, Men,
about twenty-five years ago, aHd DIS
first business venture was 40 {. i,.-. nor
with his father in the manufacture %
gas engines. Later he became an auto
mobile tester for a large factory AT
Flint, Mich.
philin q Parmalee was one OF the star
ayiators of the Wright group. At the avia-
ton meet I'm San Francisco on January Y
Of last year he made new American en-
~ al M nQ
hours 80 minutes 40 1-5 seconds.
II could have remained up longer" he
said, but my seat grew so hard and my
hands and feet were 50 benumbed that
decided to come down after clinching the
American record"
He was the first aviation scout employed
by the United States government. ranking
as lieutenant IN the government aeronauuc
service. In February. 1911, he was sent TO
the Mexican frontier to watch the move
ments OF Mexican troops and report them
by wireless from his machine.
In March OF that year he captured the
American cross country record with a
passenger, going 10s miles in hours min
ptes. with Lieutenant Benjamin ID. Foulois
U. s. A., accompanying him.
Parmalee went TO Los Angeles with
NiShio boAsey' VINO was hiiioo s''"'S ~
January ]. 1911. In Chicago last August
Parnalee established a worlds altitude rec
ord. flying 10 height OF 10,SD rect but
the record was broken on the next DAY by
Lincoln Beachey. Parmalee drove one OF
the cars In the New York-to-Atlanta ma
oonal- highway tour
Parnslee had close call only two weeks
ago at Venice, Cal. when seagull struch
NE propeller Of his biplane when he was