Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-06-21
Navy Adds First Victim to Avi-
alton in Ensign BiIIingSley,
Who Is Hurled From Ma
chine at Dizzy Height
COMPANION OFFICER
SURVIVES AWFUL FALL
Lieutenant Towers CIingS 10
Craft as It Drops at Light
ming Speed and Escapes
Death MiracuIouSIy

fsv sosHiNa iouHsAl srsesAL IsAsso viHs
Annapolis Md, June 20.--The
navy added It's first victim TO the
death roll Of the air today when En-
sign William ID. BillnRslov was hurl-
ed from a disabled biplane. 1900 feet
In the air. aud fell into the depths of
Chesapeake hay. Lieutenant John A.
Towers. chief Of the navy aviators,
clung to the hurtling wreck that fol-
lowed his comrades course from sky
TO water. and escaped death, almost
Ensign Billingsley, in biplane that
had been converted into hydro
aoroplane by the addition OF pom
toons. with Lieutenant Towers as
passenger left the aviation grounds
at the naval academy here this morn
ing to fly TO Claiborne, eighteen miles
across the bay. About ten miles
down the bay a gust OF wind struck
the fragile aeroplane. Ensign Bill
Kingsley was thrown forward across
the steering gear which was disabled,
The front planes of the craft fell,
and II dropped straight TO the water,
1 600 feet below,
As II dropped the pilot was cata-
pulted out. His body turning IN the
air, out-speeded the disabled machine
toward the water. Deep into the bay
the body sank and up 20 late hour
tonight It had not been recovered.
when the aeroplane started on It's
dive for the bay, Lieutenant Towers
olung desperately TO one OF the
struts between the planes. Although
at times his body swung clear Of the
rapidly falling airship, he maintained
his hold with hand and arm almost
wrenched apart. After falling about
900 feet. the biplane turned a complete
somersault and for a moment the
force Of the fall was broken.
Striking the bay, il carried Lieu
tenant Towers beneath the water, but
he rose to the surface almost immed-
lately Within a few minutes he was
taken off by b. l.. Bronson and 5.
Kellar. who were watching the aero
planes movements from motor boat
kept on the bay by the navy aviators
for use in such accidents.
At the naval academy hospital Lieu
tenant Towers almost in a state or
nervous collapse, his entire body
trembling and his head wagglng pit
eously, told the tragic story Of his fan
from the sky.
Just before the accident he said,
Il looked at the altitude dial and It
showed that We we're running at a
height Of about 1925 feet. Just then,
gust Of wind seemed to come up
from below II struck the aeroplane
underneath the rear planes, and the
machine lurehed violently and took an
uncertain dive forward. This threw
Blllngsley across the steering gear.
With another plunge, the biplane
dropped down at express speed II all
happened IN minute. Billingsley
went out Of his seat and clear Of the
planes. when the ship started to
fall, ] had one hand around the up-
right. between the planes, and
locked IL there.
II knew that was my only hope.
was torn loose from the seat but held
on 10 the upright. The strain on my
arms and fingers was awful. but 1
clenched my teeth and held on. /
tried to kick the steering gear back
into working order, but I could not
make Il go. l looked down and saw
Billlngsley turning over and over in
the air.
The trembling officer halted his
story to wipe the sweat from his ashy
face. but went on Immediately.
when the aeroplane had dropped
about 900 feet, the front planes went
down and under until the ship had
turned a complete somersault. When
It was half way over It steadied for
O minute and the force Of the fall
was broken little. but 1t gathered
momentum again and when Il hit the
water. there was a terrific splash.
But / kept clear of the engine and
The planes, and managed to come to
The surface safely"
AT the hospital tonight. Lieutenant
Powers was listed as slightly injured
Internally" but the surgeons were in
lOuhl as 10 lilc iAuNt NNttHN Va ms III
uries.
The motor boat which picked up
Lieutenant Towers was some distance
rom the scene of tho wreck when Il
occurred Towers fell about four
niles out in the bay.
Capt. John II. Gibbons, In charge
If the naval academy. appointed to-
night Il naval board Of inquiry to In
the accident.
An examination OF Lieutenant Tow
RS tonight developed the fact that he
probably was more seriously injured
han had been believed. II was dis
covered that In addition to internal
INJURIES. he had a rib broken and that
lis body from head to foot was
mass of bruises from his terrific i'm