Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-10
CONDITIONS IN MEXICO
SUFFERING EXTREME
Congressional investigation On
Work Of Aviation With Punt
tive Expedition.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS.
Suffering for Water Government Pay
ing Thousands of Dollars to En-
pertinent On What to D o and
What Not 10 Do.

What Not to Do.
Especial to the Evening Capital, by Jean
Caheii O'NeiI ~ PasO, May 5.
Part /.
The most picturesque figure Of the
aviation service, Lieut. II A. Dargue.
of the First Aero Squadron. United
States Army, reached here from Co
lumbus, ~ NJ, an hour ago, summoned
TO Washington for the forthcoming
congressional investigation of thewo
OF aviation with the punitive expedi-
ton. He is now with Gen Hugh L.
Scott at the private car headquarters
of the United States Army on a rail-
road siding of the Southern Pacific.
Just two weeks ago this officer of
the Army, bearing a commission as
first lieutenant broke the recon for
cross-country flying with one passen-
ger, wrestling the record for this work
from Stephen MacGordon of New York
a Curtiss aviator. 1t was dawn of
frightfu wind and storm when Lieu
tenant Dargue, with Capt r. $. Gorrell
as observer, started from Columbus
n. M for a non-stopping fight.
Just at daybreak. observed by your
correspondent. who had arrived on the
night train and so happened to be the
only press representative ION the job, ="
the pilot and passenger rose from the
aviation field at the Army base ami
skirting along the border of New Mex
leo until within sight Of the Sierra
Espuelas, changing their course south
over these peaks and encircling the
passes east of OaXaca, Lieutenant
Dargue piloted east until the asro-
plane crossed the Rio de Carretas at
James. a more northerly course was
taken, the aviators finally returning
to Columbus by way of the Ascension.
Espia and Boca Grandes. The engine
behaved we'll and no stops were made.
but the cold was so intense that the
trip was shortened on account of the
almost frozen condition of the pilots
hands-the fingers not yet having re-
covered from the numbing experience
The highest altitude reached was
1900 feet, which is added to the alti-
tude of the country over which the fly
ing was done. 1890 feet above sea
level This was while flying over the
peaks of the Sierra de Las Espuelas.
The time was four hours and FIVE min
utes and the distance was three hun
dred miles.
Just five days later in Mexico Lieu
tenant Dargue was again the hero of
an adventure. but not a successful one
ON this occasion. With Capt. r. H.
Willis. of South Carolina. of the First
Aero Squadron. as observer, he was
scouting over the ranges of the noun
tains south and west fCusihutriaschic
when the pilot found it necessary to
mount to avoid possible destruction to
the craft. but the engine lacked the
necessary pep" to respond to the sug-
gestion of the pilot, and it and the
fiers were smasheda on to the ledge.
falling a considerable distance and be
ing destroyed, and the officers were
badly bruised and stunned.
I chatted with Captain Willis at the
Columbus station while with bandaged
head and slippered feet he awaited the
train TO take him to the hospital at
Fort Sam Houston, where he is still
being nursed into normal strength.
His simple story was thrilling. for
what he left unsaid but which anyone
who watched the work of the skilled
aviators in the low-power machines
sent out by the administration. could |
easily supply.
Captain Willis explained the acct
dent which so nearly cost the life of |
the two officers as follows:
The machine fell while the pilot
was making or attempting to make. a |
turn. We were passing at the time |
over a ravine between mountain sides |
when we saw above US a peak that we |
knew we could not make Lieutenant |
Dargue attempted to make a turn and |
secure a landing, but the motor drop |
ped of and we went head first into /
the side of the mountain.
Both of US were knocked uncon-
scious. and when I came to called for
Dargue. but he did not answer. was
pinned under a lot of wire and plane
debris. I thought he had probably |
believed me dead or probably gone for
help. After time l heard hing roam.
1t was on the far side from me and |
could not see But later when h
came too" he crawled over to me and