The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07
Major Loses Control OfScOut
Machine in Louisiana,
Dropping 500 Feet.
NIGHT HAVE JUMPED
Goes Into Nose Dive After
GyratiOns of an Aircraft
New to Him.
SAFETY BELT IS LOOSE
Widow Starts for the North
Alone, Accompanying Her
Husbands Body.
SAFETY BELT IS LOOSE
Special Despatch to THE Sun.

Special Despatch to THE Sun.
LAKE CHARLES. La, July s. - Major
John Purroy Mitchell. ex-Mayor Of New
York city and an officer in the flying
section OF the Signal Corps since last
winter was killed at 8: :05 o'clock this
morning Just beyond the boundaries Of
Gerstner Flying Field, near here, when
he fell from a single seated scout air.
plane from a height of about 500 feet
Major Mitchell either fell from the ma
chine or jumped from the seat after the
airplane had for some unknown reason
got beyond his control He had been in
the air about half an hour and was fly
ing just above a stretch of marsh grass
outside the field limits when killed.
| The machine went into nose dive
Just before he fell. An examination OF
the wrecked machine showed the safety
belt was unfastened at the time of the
accident Major Kirby. commanding
| officer at the field. declined tonight to
speculate as to the cause Of the belt be-
ing unfastened. II is rule he said.
that all fliers fasten themselves In the
plane with the belt before ascending
The investigation has not been COM
pleted.
Mrs. Mitchell Is Near by.
Mrs. Mitchell was at Gerstner Field at
the time OF the accident, but did not
see her husband fall to his death Few
of the many flying men and others in
and around the field In fact, witnessed
the Majors plunge. Those who did see
Major Mitchels body whrl toward
the earth just ahead of his crazy flut-
tering plane ran across the fields toward
a.
were being sounded.
The searchers first to arrive near tho
point where Major Mitchell was seen to
fall were compelled to look for some
minutes before they came upon the body.
In the tall marsh grass they finally saw
the badly crushed remains of the young
exMayor of New York.
Seemingly he had been killed In
stantly. The airpane, a tangled tumble
of wings and wires. was piled on the
grass In a wreck some distance away.
Immediately after the body had been
removed an investigation of the wreck
age was made under the direction OF
Major Kirby. commanding officer at the
field, in order to learn If possible the
cause of the accident.
Even fying men whose hazardous
al NdIh'iltu NIlclll Splut-
what to sudden deaths were deeply
shocked and grieved over the sudden and
violent ending OF the young New York
er's brilliant career.
Major and Mrs Mitchell, who had
come here from California, where New
York's exMayor qualified as a flicr only
few weeks ago. had made many stanch
friends and many OF these Immediately
comfort her as best they could under
trying circumstances
News Broken TO kyintor's Wife.
Mrs Mitchell first learned that her
husband was dead when Major Luckie
OF the Medical Department Of the army
and two women friends of Mrs. Mitchell
went to the attractive little cottage
wi ich the Mtchels recently had taken
close to the flying field.
I'm afraid, Mrs Mitchell" began
Major Inckie. that We have some bad
news to tell you. | hope you will
try"
Tell it-tell it," cried Mrs. Mitchell
"Go ahead Major am prepared and
an bear it
We'll. Mrs Mitchell" said Major
Luckie. reluctantly. Major Mitchell fell
: just now He's dead"
Mrs, Mitchell sank down, but took the
blow with outward calm and bravely
The visitors sought to comfort her anI
, asked her To command them TO do what
ever she wished She was silent for
some moments and then raised her head
{ and asked brCkcnly 70 be left alone with
4 her thoughts until she summoned some
one. The little party withdrew.