Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-10-04
LOCAL PEOPLE
SEE AIR MAN
FALL AT FAIR
Some Stand Horror Stricken
While Others Rush 10 Aid
Of the Victim.
DROP OF 1000 FEET
Charles F. Walsh Meets Sad
Death Before Huge Crowd
at Trenton Yesterday.

al trenton IeSier0ay.
Several local people, among them
Acting Mayor Ferd Garretson and
other city officials, saw Charles F.
Walsh fall about 1000 feet to his
death In Curtiss biplane Just out
side Of the Trenton fair grounds yes
terday afternoon. Among those
first to the dying aviator's side and
who aided in clearing the wreckage
from him, was William Petty.
Crushed and bleeding, but breathing
family, Walsh was taken from the
corn field in which he fell to the
Mckinley hospital tent on the fair
grounds. He died as he reached the
tent. His machine was carried away
in small pieces by the thousands Of
curious persons who gathered about
the scene of the accident and were
eager to collect souvenirs.
City Officials Present.
Among those from this city who
were in the fair grounds and saw
the fatal plunge were: Acting Mayor
Garretson and wife, Aldermen John
Kutcher and Samuel w. Hornsby. j.
T. Simmens. Anton Massopust. Jo-
seph Massopust, Harry Conard,
George Mead, John Ellie and William
I Petty.
Several Of the local people doubted
the success of Walsh's fight, when it
was announced the wind was rather
strong. but the flight would be at
tempted nevertheless. Some OF them
were among those who crowded in
the ayiator's way as he was about
to start. He had difficulty in driving
the mass of people back and ap-
peared angry. One said, LET him
go, 1t may be his last ride"
RecOllecting the experience Of
himself and a NEWS representative
in flights with o. G. Simmons be-
tween this city and South Amboy on
July 4, last, Acting Mayor Garretson
told his wife to watch the aeroplane
rock as 1t scared in the high wind.
With the thousands of others in the
grounds, they watched the birdman
soar gracefully. Mr.. Garretson says
Walsh flew successfully for about
fifty minutes. Then he started spec
tacular stunts. He made a spiral
turn with the plane tilted to slight
degree. The second time the spiral
was attempted they tipped over more
and finally the planes were vertical.
The machine fell rapidly a few hun
dred feet and then collapsed in the
air.
John Ellie was among the souvenir
seekers. He secured a piece of a
wooden rod with a piece of tin at
tached.
Aviator Fred Rodmon Law, sched-
uled to fly after the ill-fated Walsh,
sent telegram to his wife in Brook
lyn, assuring her of his safety. G.
Howard Smith, Of this city, deliver
ed the telegram to the New Bruns-
wick office.
Brisk Wind Blowing.
The flight Of Walsh was undertaken
In the face Of fairly brisk breeze
which swept over the big inclosure at
the grounds. It was announced that
tho wind was strong for aerial work.
but that Walsh would attempt flight.
His ascent was accomplished without
about 1850 feet he made long down
ward glide. which brought him direct
ly over the field in front Of the grand
stand. Then he began the circular
maneuvers. the strain from which is
probably responsible for the collapse
| Of the under plane.
Through glasses Walsh could be seen
struggling to right the biplane, which
tipped almost on its end and then par
tally rightedtstself and made drop of
perhaps a thousand feet before the
final collapse of both planes started it
hurdling toward the earth.
From that moment Walsh was prac-
tically obscured from view in the tan
gled folds Of the biplane. which came
down with terrific speed, landing In
the middle Of large open field.
Walsh's neck was dislocated, his chin
forced completely out Of place, and
many bones were broken. His legs
were pinned under the motor. Hardly
had his body been extricated when
hundreds Of spectators pounced upon
the biplane and literally tore 1t apart
In their madness to obtain souvenirs
When the crowd had finished its work
the machinery was all that was left
Walsh was about twenty -four years
old and is survived by \ widow and
two children. He was a pupil Of Lin
coin Beacbey and had been an aviator
fOT about three years.
During the 6rst three days Of the
fair Walsh had thrilled the spectators
by his daring and seemingly had per-
feet control Of his biplane.