The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-15

TWO AvIlT0RS KILLED.
LOSE THEIR LIVES WHILE TEST.
ING MACHINE FOR GOVERN.
MENT.
Lieut.. Hazelhurst and a. l.. Welch
Fell to Death When Wings of Bi-
plane Crumplcd up-Thcy We're
Trying To Rise Two Thousand Feet
I'm Ten Minutes.

In Ten Minutes.
College Park. June 11.-Another
fearful toll was taken by aviation to-
night when the mutilated bodies of
Lieut.. Leighton w. Hazelhurst, Jr..
seventeenth infantry, Y. s. A., and
Alfred l.. Welch, a professional avi-
ator. in the employ Of the Wright
brothers. were taken from under the
debris of collapsed biplane. The ac-
cident occurred when they were at
tempting to make the test required by
the government in a machine con-
tracted for by the war department
Although an army board was imme-
diately appointed to determine the
cause Of the accident. 1t is probable
that the real cause Of the machines
failure never will be known. The
crash came SO suddenly and unexpect-
edly that the two men met their death
without being able to make a single
move to arrest their fall.
Seven army flyers were among the
score Of spectators. but they can not
explain the accident.
IL was shortly after O'Clock that
the Wright machine was run out in
front OF the long line Of hangers. For
several days AviNtor Welch. whose
home Is in this city. had been busy
demonstrating the aeroplane. All OF
the war department. requirements
had been met except a climb Of 1000
feet within 10 minutes. carrying a
load Of $50 pounds. welch knew the
machine was capable of making the
test. for II had been tested at Dayton.
Ohio. by Orville Wright before It was
taken to College Park, and he had
been made impatient by several fail
ures.
TIN going to make that climb to-
night or know the reason why" he
said as he began to tune up. II am
tired or fooiing.' he added.
A few minutes later he announced
that he was ready. Lieut.. Hazelhurst
followed welch into the machine.
taking the passengers seat. The aero
plane went of steadily and flew the
length Of the field rising 200 feet. AS
1t was turned towards the group Of
army officers before the hangers
Welch dipped sharply to indicate to
the officialSthat he was ready for the
stiff climb.
The dip caused to wing about 10
feet OF the ground. and 1t then
Strengthened out sharly. too quickly
the observing flyers thought. With
out 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 dived.
The accident occurred about 1000
feet from the hangers. and when the
first witness reached the wreck 1t
was seen that both Of the men were
dead. Welch was buried In the d.
bris. but the body Of Hazelhurst had
been catapulted 20 feet away after
the machine struck. Welch's clothes
were practically torn from his body.
which was bruised and battered.
Hazelhurst's skull was fractured, and
his head badly disfgured
Death to both Of the men probably
had been instantaneous.
Many new features were embodied
In the machine evolved as a result
of Orville Wright's experiments at
Kill Devil Hill. y. c., last summer.
The Wright brothers always built
comparatively slow craft. but the gov
ernment required that the new ma
chine should make as miles an hour.
At its trial several days ago, sos miles
was attained. IT was estimated that
II was making Is miles an hour when
the fatal plunge came. The wings Of
the craft were Of aluminium instead
or canvas, hut In appearance Ii was