The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-05-14
DIR. E. c. RICH BRINGS THE RE-
MAINS OF HIS BOY
FROM OHIO.
KILLED In PRACTICE Flight
DECEASED EXPECTED TO ENTER
SERVICE OF GOVERNMENT
IN SHORT TIME.

LII. =, ~. MICH arrived IN Sauk Gen
| ire Friday noon of last week with the
remains of his son, Phillip H. Rich
who met his death in an aeroplane at
Akron, Ohio, the Sunday preceding.
Since the Doctor returned additional
facts have been secured as to how the
accident occurred.
Phil was not making an exhibition
fight at the time, but practice fight
He was a daring aviator and did
feats with his machine that few bird
men would tackle. One of his acts
for the purpose of electrifying the
audience was to rise to 1000 or 1,50O
feet in the air, and then head the ma
chine straight for the ground de-
scending with gread rapidity. When
within a 100 feet or so of the earth
he would suddenly stop the machine
and rise again in the air. He was
trying this stunt at the time the ac-
cident occurred, but something went
wrong and when he attempted to make
his ascent the machine collapsed and
he was dashed to instant death, falling
about 100 feet or so, with the heavy
machine on top of him.
Mr.. Rich took up the aeroplane
game in the early part OF 1913. When
he left Sank Centre several years ago
he went to Spokane, Wash, and en-
tered the employ of James A. Caugn-
rem. In March, 1913 he had an oppor-
tunity to take an important position
with a firm of New York contractors
who had a large railroad job in Aus
tralia, and went East to make his ar
rangements. On his return he stop
ped off to visit his sister Miss Bertha
who is teaching school at Ely, New.
He stated to her that he would sail
from Frisco to Australia shortly and
gave the name of the vessel upon
which he had secured passage. This
was the last word that his parents re-
ceived from him directly and they as
sumed he was in Australia.
However after he reached San Fran
cisco he went out to the AerOplane
fields and after watching the bridmen
make their flights became so interest
ed in the game that he changed his
plans and went East, took a course
in aviation at the Curtiss' school at
Hammondspoint, N. Y, and after
graduation received license as a pilot
from the International Aerial Club.
He recently passed a successful gov
eminent examination and in the event
of war with Mexico expected to JON
the Government Aviation forces.
In order that his parents should not
worry, he was flying under the name
of P. H. Harris.
He was united in marriage to Miss
Dorothy Pearson of Spokane, Wash,
about one year ago at Buffalo, N. Y.
She knew that he was in the aviation
profession and urged him to retire
because of the danger. Only Tuesday
of this week she received letter from
him which had been forwarded from
Spokane, Wash, and which must have
been written Just shortly before the
accident, in which he said that his
chances of severe injury by aviation
were not one in thousand. However
on at least three different occasions
before his death he had been danger
ously near the Great Divide because
of mishaps to his machine.
Phillip H. Rich was the only son OF
DIR. and Mrs. E. c. Rich. He was born
in Sank Centre, April 26, 1888. He
grew to young-manhood here and
graduated from the local High School
about seven years ago. Following his
graduation he worked Tor a year LII
the railroad offices at Melrose, after
which he entered the employ of Mr..
Caughren.
The funeral was held at the family
residence on Main street, Saturday
afternoon, Mr.. Hume of Alexandria
and mr.. Nicholson of the East con-
Quoting the services. Miss Mary
Washington sang "Face to Face"
The pallbearers, former school
mates, were: Percy Hansen, Beng.
Dubois, VIM. Kay, Lynn Whitson,
Glen Lee and David Caughren. The
floral offerings were profuse and
beautiful. Burial was made in the
family lot at the Odd Fellows ceme-
terry.
The young wife, the parents and
sisters have the sympathy of all OF
Sank Centre in their bereavement.