The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-25
IIEUT.CROWE KILLED
IN PLANE ACCIDENT.
Former "Sun" Reporter Meets
Death in France Soon After
Qualifying as Aviator.
MANY FRIENDS IN n. Y.
Began Career in Memphis
Left Bank to Enlist in
Air Service.

Second Lieut.. James Richard Grove.
United States Air Service. formerly n
reporter for THE SuN. was killed a few
DAYS ago In a flying accident in France.
according TO a cable message received
bv his relatives in Memphis. Tenn He
had completed his aviation training at
Tours, and in one OF his last letters
he said he was to 20 10 the front on
septernber 10. II is evident he lost
his life Just after attaining his ambi-
ton 20 take part in aerial combat
Lieut.. Grove was the only son Of Mrs.
James r. Grove, l01 Park Boulevard.
shefficld, Ala. His father. who died
several years ago. was In the Confed-
crate army and later was one of seven
curious costume, adopted for the initia-
ton ceremonies of n Greek letter fra
ternlty, was adopted by the Kultlux
Khan.
The son was graduated at the Univer-
silly Of Tennessee at Sewanee. He in
tended TO be an entomologist. but his
eyesight was 50 impaired by working
over microscope at the Government
biological laboratory at Woods Hole.
Mass that he abandoned his scientific
studies and entered newspaper work.
He became a reporter in Memphis. For
a time no covered the news of the river
front There was spot in the. Missis-
sippi River where he detected the forma-
ton OF an island by the currents before
even the river pilots had observed the
phenomenon. They laughed at young
Grove and told him that II land did
really appear above the water they
would name II after him.
Island Named After Him.
Sure enough the island did bob up,
and is now known as Grove Island.
Grove came to New York and after
several months of general reporting for
THE SrN became assistant dramatic
editor. He was bright and pleasing
writer. His talent and a disposition
that was as sunny and friendly as his
accent was Southern won him a multi
tude OF friends in and out of the news
paper and dramatic professions He
worked for THE SUN for about two
years. then went to the service de-
partment OF the National Bank of Com
merce. whose vice-president, Guy Emer-
son, his immediate superior. said last
night that he never knew another man
who made so many friends or so firmly
established himself dn a short time.
Young Grove was Just hitting his stride
al the bank when Americas entrance
into the war caused him to enlist In
the aviation service.
Went to France Last November.
He spent the summer Of 1917 at the
ground school in Cambridge. Mass. re-
celved further instruction at Mineola. and
went to France in November. From
France he sent letters which are among
the best that have been written BY young
Americans In .the war. Some Of them
we're published lit TiiE EVENING Sun and
other newspapers. About tho middle of
September he wrote to one Of his closest
friends here:
Il feel that am an embusque. having
been a year back here in the .
while fellows like Jim Young and tn,
rest are up there being blasted of thu
earth every day. I feel have SO littl,
OF interest to write when everybody
heart is either In hfs mouth or at tn
front. Nothing back here can max
much difference. have Just come II
from a long cross-country voyage.
had to nurse along a bum motor. ex
rectng every moment II would quit ant
drop me into somebody's vineyard.
have been six hours in the air to-day
Vow for sleep. OLD Crows"
The following bit from his pen was
York Times of August 4:
THE BIRD MANS 81. FRANCIS.
BY James Richard Grove.
II was the good st. Francis OF Assist,
was 1t not? who 30 loved the birds that
he preached to them, not forgetting the
while to break and bless their daily
bread. !, about to begin my novitiate
N their school. have a new and broth
erly feeling for the feathered fraternity
for the least Of them is yet greater in
the art OF flying than am l. On my
daily walks in the fields I study them
as never before. and I cannot but envy
them their grace and skill.
They are ancient mariners of a sea
On whose shores I have long stood with
wonder and watched its blue infnity
sprinkled with tufted aisles without the
means to embark. So the savagei
might have regarded the first sailor. tina
intrepid soul who trusted his life to 6
rail bark of his own fashioning
shall soon set sail for the first time
on that ocean which is their daily abode
shall essay a new element. timidly at
first, and by slow degrees learn to navi-
gate the air.
II is an old and kindly element to
Ners while its rocky shores are scattered
with the wrecks OF mans attempts to
them They know its moods and man
10 Nn al Al Ia L. .TN