The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-21
Straight as Plummet He
Falls 1,600 Feet Into
Chesapeake Bay.
COMPANION SAVED
ONLY BY MIRACLE
Ensign Billingsley Ninth Victim
of Governments Experimental
Service-Lieutcnant Towers
Goes Down Clinging to
Hurting Wreck, and
Is Rescued Alive.

Annapolis. Nd June 2o-The Naval
Academy added it's FIRST victim TO the
death roll Of the air to-day, when En-
sign William y Billingsley was hurled
from disabled biplane 1900 feet in
the air, and fen straigh, as n plum
met. into the depths of Chesapca k
Pay. Lieutenant John A. Towers. chief
OF the navy aviators. chung TO the
hurting wreck that followed his com
rade's course from sky TO waters. and
escaped death. almost miraculously
Ensign Billngsley. in a biplane that
had been converted into n hydroacro-
plane BY the addition of pontoons, with
Lieutenant Towers as q passenger. left
the aviation grounds at the Naval
Academy here this morning 10 fly TO
Claiborn. about eighteen miles across
the bay. About ten miles down the bay
gust of wind struck them. Ensign
Billingsley WAS thrown forward across
the steering gear, which was disabled.
The front planes of the craft fell. and
IL dropped like . dead bird toward the
water. AS IT fell. tho pilot was cata-
pulled out, and. turning over and over.
his body outsped the disabled machine
the body sank, and late tonight all
the available boats In the ncishborhood
We're out seeking II
CIings ON Desperately.
dive for the bay. Lieutenant Towers
clung desperately 10 one OF the up
rights between the planes Although
at times his body swung clear of the
rapidly falling airship. he maintained
his hold with hand and arm almost
wrcnched apart. After falling about
900 feet the hiplaue turned complete
.omersault. and FOR "a moment tho force
ot the fail was broken. striking the
has. it carried Lieutenant Towers be-
meath the water, but rose to the sur
face almost Immediately.
The aviator, suffering excruciating
pain. feared that he would lose CON
sciousness before he could be rescued.
=ud tearing loose the lashings of one
or the planes bound himself fast TO y
rontoon Within few minutes he
Nas taken off hy IS l.. Bronson and ).
kellar. who had watched The aero
planes movement from motorboat
kept on the bay for use in just such
emergencies
Al the Navy Academy hospital Lieu
tenant Towers, almost in a state Of
nervous collapse his head waeging
piteously. told tho tragic story OF his
fall
Just before the accident" he said.
II looked AT the altitude dial, and IL
showed that we were running AZ a
heighth of abou; l.525 feet. Just then
= gust OF wind seemed 10 come up from
below II struck the aeroplane under
lurched violently and took an uncer-
tain dive forward. This threw Bill
Kingsley across the steering gear and
the lateral rudder planes went out of
business.
with another forward plunge. the
hiplane dropped down at express train
speed. 1t all happened in a minute
Billing sley went out Of his seat and
clear Of the plane
starts on Terrible Fall.
When tho shin started fall q n
one hand around The upright. between
the planes. and | locked II there. |
knew that was my only hope / was
torn loose from the seat. hut held on
the upright. | swung clear OF the
planes. and the Searings. The strain
on my arms and fingers was awful
but clenched my teeth and held on.
tried to kick the steering gear back
into working order. but l could not
make il 20. looked down and saw
BillinGsley turning over and over in
the air"
The trembling officer halted his story
TO wipe the sweat from his ashv face
but went on immediately
when the aeroplane had dropned
about 900 feet the front planes went
down and under until the ship had
been turned completely over. When it
was half way over il steadied for a
minute. and the force OF the fan was
broken "A little. but it gathered momen-
tum again. and when il hit the water
there was a terrific crash but | kent
clear of the engine and the planes and
managed 10 come TO the surface safely"
AZ the hospital tonight lieutenant
Towers was listed as Slightly injured
intcrnally.' but the surgeons were in
doubt as to the exact extent of his
injuries. He suffered terribly from
shock.
The motorboat which picked up Lieu
tenant Towers was about four miles
from the scene when the wreck occur
led. watching the evolutions of new
fying boat" which Ensign Godfrey
chcvelier and Lieutenant Isaac Dortch
were trying out.
Captain John r. Gibbons, in charge
Of the Naval Academy. tonight ap-
pointed naval board OF inquiry to in
NeStigate the accident. Commander w
w Phelps Lieutenant Il. j. King and
Ensign Victor l.. Herbster make up the
board. The tug Standish was sent
down the bay TO bring in the wreck of
the aeroplane and the torpedo boat
StrinEham and all other available era IT
We're sent out to search for Tho bodv
II Ensign Billingsley.
I4iSt Stnnds At Nine.
The death Of Ensign BillingsIey
makes a total of nine fatalities in .hc
government service since the army
began experiments with heavier than
mir machines ut Fort hycr. in 1905.
His death is tho first in the aviation
corps OF the navy
William d. Bllingslcy entcrcd the
Naval Academy from Mississippi July
8. 1905, and was twcnty-siX years old
He was one OF the first officers do
tailed to instruction in aviation nj rho
Naval Academy, when a class was
formed IT. July. 1909 Lieutenant John
II. Towers was horn in Georgia, and
CONTINUED On Third PaeeY