Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-12-30
MAJOR 70. KIRBY DIES
Of INJURIES IN PLANE.
ACCIDENT; PILOT HURT

Major Fayetie q. Kirby, United States
army engineer for the brownsville dis
trlci, died at Base Hospital No. al :
o'clock this morning a. the result of in
lurles sustained Sunday afternoon at 80
when an airplanc in which MAJOR Kirby
was a passenger fell two hundred feet to
the ground. Lieutenant Joseph Quirk Of
Kelly Field, San Antonio, who maS pilot
ing the machine, received cuts about the
face, and some bruises, but hi injuries
are not serious lie viii be released from
the hospital shortly.
The accident occurred about mile
and half east Of the city. near 4 land
Ing field which waS being used ~ three
airplancs which camc the latter part Of
the week from Kelly Field for week end
hunting trip to the coast. The plane fell
in the brush about one hundred and fifty
yard, from the landing field. II was prac-
lcally wrecked, the propeller being smash
ed, the wings damaged aud the Observers
seat, IN with Major Kirby wa- seated,
caved IN. The engine also was destroyed.
Iicuicnants Joseph Quirk, Walter Byrnc
and Ernest Allison of Kelly Field had
been giving flying exhibitions during the
afternoon and large crowd of civilians
and army Officers were present observingI
the exhibition. The machine in which Maj
or Kirby was a passenger, and Licuten-
ant Quirk pilot had risen only few min
utes before and was FLYING low. Accord
ing 10 Witnesses, the machine began to-
drop with the familiar tail spin. the pilot
having apparently lost control. The near
ness 10 the ground made il impossible toI
regain his equilibrium, with the result that
the machine smashed 10 the earth.
The fact that the machine struck thel
ground head on, and slightly to the sde,l
one wing taking partially the force Of the
blow probably saved the life of Lieutenant
Quirk.
Mrs. Kirby, the wife of Major Kirby,
was on the field al the time and saw the
airplane carrying her husband faIl.
Lieutenant W. III. Lee OF the Thirty
Seventh Infantry, was one OF the first TO
reach the wrecked plane. lie found Lieu
tenant "urk, blood streaming down his
face. sanly attempting 10 cxtricatc Mai /
or Kirby from hI- position IN the wreck
age. A. soon a. Lieutenant Quirk saw
hsl y h. became unconscious. II required
several minute, to ret Major Kirby un-l
still conscious but breathing very heavily.
Both men were removed 10 Base Hospital
No. ,. less than 4 half mile distant, inl
automobiles.
Mayor Kirby wa. 81 wears old lIisl
home j. at Gl3 North Eighth street Go
lumbia, Mo. III wa- Commissioned cap
tain in the Engineer Reserve corps IN 1917.
obtaining hi- majority early IN thi~ year
lie had been district engineer ia charge ~
army work since coming to Brownsville.
and especially gave his attention to the
Improvement Of the river bank in Fort
Brown
Mr~.- Joseph Qurk wife Of Lieutenant
Qulrk, arrived today from San Antonio.
Ii was announced this afternoon that
the funeral will be- held from the Epi~co-
pal church, Tenth and Washington streets.
at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Rev
J. ". Dennis officiating. The remains will
he shipped to Admission. Ala. for burial.
The pallhearers viii he Major Mcpherson.
Major Wilson, Cantain Tnttlc. Captain
Bradford. Lieutenant Wiener and Lieu
tenant Milholand.
Major Kirby had many friends among
the civilian ponulation of Brownsville and
Mrs. Kirby hopes that a will attend the
obsequics.
Two alrplancs. ploted hv I.ieutcnants
Allison and Rvrne. will fly over the fun
eral cortcrc Tuesday afternoon and drop
flowers.
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