The sun., 1918-07-07
Big LOSS TO NATION,
PUBLIC MEMS VIEW
Mitchel's Former Associates
and Political Opponents
Join in Eulogies.
EAGER TO GO TO FRANCE
Among First Advocates Of
Preparedness and FOresaw
Our Part in War.

York no keenly as the death in military
air service OF Major John Purroy
Mitchell
Within an hour after the news had
been flashed from Lake Charles, La
that the former Mayor had been killed
by a fall from his fast scout machine
while flying over Gerstner Field. there
was sadness throughout the city grief
which seemed to be personal TO every
household.
TIE expression OF this grief revealed
Il appeared. a thought which seemed to
be at the back Of mems minds-was 1t
not a shame that the life OF man 30
competent and experienced and willing
was exposed to the extraordinary periis
OF aviation service? Invariably accom-
panying the tributes OF admiration and
respect which were heard everywhere
vas the regret that Major Mitchell had
not chosen 20 serve his country in some
service where his remarkable abilities
could have been preserved.
Men who had been his closest asso-
ciates in public Office and private life
knew that there we're certain facts con-
nected with Major M;chels fitness
which should have deferred him from
that perilous branch of military service.
Twelve years ago. the ex-Mayore
friends were aware. Mr.. Mitchell. on a
visit to South America. was attacked by
tropical fever which put into his sys-
TEN a poison which never could be
wholly eradicated. From time to time fe
- 1T xaY n
severe headaches. binding headaches.
which caused the most intense pain and
left Mr. Mitchell very weak He SUI
fered from these attacks many times
while he was Commissioner OF Accounts,
President OF the Board OF Aldermen.
Assistant Corporation Counsel, Coliec-
tor Of the Port and Mayor.
On the day he was sworn into ONCE
as Mayor Mr. Mitchell excused himself
from the public reception and retired 10
his private Office There Lieut.. William
Kennel, his bodyguard. found him en-
during agonies As Lieut.. Kennel Of
fored assistance Mr. Mitchell fell 70 the
floor from a sofa and suffered paroxysms
Of pain for many minutes. The recur-
renee Of these attacks at times while he
was attending to public business, such IL
presiding over meetings Of the Board OF
Estimate and over hearings at the City
Hall. was well known to his friends.
who quite well understood that an acer-
bity OF manner. a sharpness OF speech
sometimes displayed by the Mayor were
duo altogether 20 the pains that wrenched
him
stirred by shots in Belgium.
Tho first gun fred In Belgium stirred
John Purroy Mitchell to the Imperative
ness OF preparation for war by the
United States and 70 the immediate ne
cessity Of defining patriotism. Hie lsoors
along those lines are familiar to every
reader of THE Sun, but perhaps his per
sonal eagerness TO serve his country was
not 30 well Understood. for there were
those who said that Mr.. Mitchell wal
posing for political ends.
His friends knew that he was doing
his duty as he saw II, always with an
eye TO the future when he might put on
a uniform and fight for hie country, His
long time friend and former secretary.
Theodore d Rousseau. said yesterday
that Mr.. Mitchell was very unwilling to
run for Mayor in 1917. that his whole
mind was fixed on the desire 70 fight for
America. and that ne accepted the nomi-
, nation because acceptance was pointed
out to him as duty not 10 be put aside,
The minute he knew he was beaten
| the ex- Mayor turned his mind wholly to
military service, requesting the War De.
partment for a commission. He told a
friend that all he cared about WAS to
get to France and fight. that he would
be entirely willing 10 fight in the
trenches as an enlisted man. He be-
lieved that his training at Plattsburg
had qualified him. with previous expert
ence. to lead men. He would have been
willing he told this friend TO take a
commission as Second Lieutenant Of in
fantry.
No such commission was available ia
him, and in January he obtained a com
mission as Major In the Signal Corps
Probably no one that knew Mr. Mitche
expected he would enter the service az
an aviator. They believed that he would
DO trained In and assigned to ground
aviation" which has important duties OF
its own.
When he announced his intention Ia
become an aviator an acquaintance
asked him II he wasn't afraid OF being
attacked by a headache while in the air
He confessed that apprehension.
Headaches Dangers Foreseen.
IF get real bad headache while
up in the clouds" he said simply, "i
will be all up with me"
There was nothing in the early new
report OF the circumstances Of his deatl
over the flying field that gave an ink
ling of Just why Mr.. Mitchell fell. bu
his friends in New York could not es
cape the fear that the accident wa
made possible by the physical weakHes
to which he was subject.
Mr.. MItchel's friends knew too tina
he was counting the days until he cOult
nee service In France. Some OF then
said yesterday that the Major himsel
was perfectly aware that there wa
little likelihood Of his returning, bu
that the thought never dampened hi
ardor.
Mayor Hylan, tho late Mayors sue
cessful opponent at the last election
received at about 10 80 A. NJ. the new
of Major Mtchels death He said tina
he was deeply shocked. Immedatel
he ordered the flags upon the city Hal
lowered 10 half stafr. and himself CAV
out the following statement:
1.-THE news OF the death OF John pur
roy Mitchell ia n great personal shoe
TO me. My sincere sympathies go GU
to Mrs Mitchell in this her great be
reayement. Proper steps will be take
by the officials Of the city and tn
public generally to pay every respec
to the late Mayor"
william N. Bennett. who procured IN
Republican nomination against NJ
Mitchell In 1917 and who was a contest
ant at the polls in November. confine
himself TO this expression:
"It was a great shock 10 me.
learned Of his death on the way to m
Office That Is all ! can say
Mcclellan Expresses Grief
Col C;eOrge r. Mcclellan fOrme