The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-03
AIR RFALL,KILLS
C.FLEISCHMANN
Capt. Taylor, Signal Corps Ex-
pert, Also Plunges
to Death.

Three aviators were instantly killed
and another seriously injured as the re-
suit of two accidents on Long Island yes
terday. In one of the tragedies Charles
Fleischmann, the twenty-one-year-ol
son of julius Flelschmann, former Mayor
of Cincinnati. and Harry Wits, the pilot
OF a hydroplane that he had recently
built, met death when their machine fell
some 500 feet into the mud fats Of Great
South Bay. near Bay Shore. L. I.
Mr. Fleischmanns death came only
Ave days after the announcement of his
engagement to Miss Florence Sheldon of
Ridge Boulevard. Brooklyn.
The other accident occurred near the
army aviation field at Mineola, and re-
suited in the death Of Capt Ralph L.
Taylor, head instructor at the Signal
Corps aviation school. and the injury Of
the student observer, Sergeant Thomas
E. Pen. The Curtiss biplane in which
they were flying plunged 500 feet to the
ground. carrying Capt Taylor to his
death.
Charles Fleischmann, who had been
deeply interested in aviation affairs, had
recently gone to Bay Shore, l.. l., TO
study hydroplanes, with the idea of en-
tering the aviation service OF either the
army or navy. A number OF privately
owned machines were to be had there
and among these n home made hydro
plane that had been constructed during
the winter by Harry Wits.
Thrown Into water.
Fleischmann. with Wits In the pilot
seat, started out from Bay Shore for
short trip out over the bay. They
had risen to Il height OF some 500 feet
and were four miles from Long Island
shore and within about two miles OF
Fire Island, when observers watching
| them through glasses saw the gray
machine suddenly plunge downward and
bury her nose in the mud under four
| feet of water The shock threw both
fiers from their seats into the water.
Immediately several score OF boats
set out from Bayshore for the scene OF
:he accident. Wheh they reached the
wrecked machine neither at the aviators
could be found and a search was at once
| instituted. A half hour later the BODY
| CT Fleischmann was discovered, and al
| 0 last night that Of Wits was found
/ some distance from the disaster.
Charles Fleischmann was the oldest
| son OF Julius Fleischmann, who besides
| holding an enviable political record in
| Cincinnati Is known rs one Of the
| greatest business men IN America
| Through his father. Charles Fleisch'
mann, founder of the compressed yeast
company and grandfather Of the youne
man who was killed yesterday, Julius
was early associated with the great
Fleischmann Industries. Recently he
came into prominence by voluntarily
closing down the great Flelschmanr
breweries and placing all the men on a
| substantial pension basis.
The accident which resulted In the
death of Capt. Taylor Of the Signal Ser
vice Aviation Reserve Corps and the So
rious injury of Sergt. Thomas E. Pell
occurred yesterday morning a short dis
tance from the Government aviation field
| at Mineola, L. /. Capt. Taylor had been
recently married. Sergt. Pell was soon
to be commissioned as First Lieuten-
ant.
Capt Taylor, strapped in the pilots
seat, with Sergt Pell in the observers
post, started out In one OF the Curtiss
biplanes. They had been flying only a
| few minutes and were 1000 feet up
when Capt. Taylor shut of his motor
and started series of gradual sprals
| Suddenly something went wrong and the
machine, jumping beyond the control OF
the pilot. plunged like rocket toward
| the earth.