The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-13
TERRIFIC SPEED
CAUSES DISASTER
Air Pressure Greater Than Wings
OF Aeroplanc Could
Stand.
INV ESTlGATORs REPORT
Explain Conditions Which
Brought Death to Two
Army Aviators.

Washington, June 1.-THE COLLAPSE
of the army aeroplane at College Park.
Md. near here. last night. which le-
suited in the deaf II of Lieutenant
Leighton w. Ha2lehurst Jr.. and The
Wright pilot, 4. l.. Welsh. was due to
terrific air pressure on the aluminium.
painted canvass wings caused bv too
sharp 4 turn a, fun speed to ascend,
according to the preliminary finding
of the army board which to-day in
vestiEaied the accident
Although the board has prepared no
written report, il reported orally to-
day to Colonel George p. scrven act
ing chief signal officer, as follows:
In his endeavor to succeed in the
altitude climb Mr.. Welch started from
an elevation of about $50 feet and
drove the machine toward the ground
with the engine running al reduced
speed In order To give the impetus
with which TO make his upward climb.
When he reached point near the
ground from which he was to start
the climb at a terrific speed. WEIGH
turned on the full power and at the
same time turned the machine into
the air. The angle of ascent was so
sharp and the speed so great that the
machine was incapable Of withstand
ing the pressure Of the air. ana the
wings therefore collapsed"
Tho investigators visited tn, scene
OF the accident and minutcly ex-
amined the wreckagc, taking a num-
Der of photographs, They returned TO
headquarters and were in session but
short NE before they reached their
verdict. Three cycwitpessra, Corporals
Adams and Ostrander and Private Nc
Cloud OF the aviation siquad. w,rc ex-
amined. although all the board had
witnessed the accident.
Causes Phil of Sorrow.
pail hung over the reservation
at College Park to-day and the flag
on private grounds in the vicinity were
ut half-mast. Tho men assigned to
clear the wreckaGc went silently about
their task. and within an hour after
the officers had finished their exan!i-
nation every particle of tho machine
was removed.
Colonel Scriven issued orders that no
more living should take place ut tho
Reservation during the remainder of
this week. lie also caused the fol-
lowing message to be sent to Mr. ani
Mrs. L. w Iia2lehurst at Evansville.
Ind parents OF the dead officer:
THE chief signal officers OF the
army and officers Of tho signal corps
desire to express to You their deep
sympathy at the loss OF your son. who
was killed while CALAMITY performing
the duty assigned to him"
Lieutenant Hazlehurst's parents will
arrive here tomorrow afternoon. ard
the lntcrmcnt Of. tho young officer
will take place at Arlington National
Cemetery Friday morning with the
military honors due TO his rank. The
honorary pallbearers will be his asso-
ciates at the aviation station. and the
body hearers will be the enlisted men
from there.
In the belief that either the govern
ment or the families of the deceased
airmcn might desire to memorializc
In some way the dreadful accident
enlisted men drove stakes into the
ground where they were founl They
bore the penciled Inscriptions:
"Hazlehurst found here and welsh
found here."