Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-07
A|RMEN, CONFUSED
IN STORM, PLUNGE
INTO THE POTOMAC
Lieut.. J. H. Davidson's Plane,
on Way Here, Has Mishap
as Goal Is Near.
MACHINIST MATE STOGLE
SUFFERS LEG FRACTURES
Their Cries in Darkness Heard by
Fishermen Near Alexandria,
Who Save Them.

Blnd1ng snow sheets and gathering
darkness caused Lieut. John H. Da-
wilson of this city to nose the hydro
plane he was plotting from Philadel-
phia to Washington into the Potomac
river. near Alexandria, Va, at 6
o'clock last night.
Chief Machinist Mate Fred F. Stogle,
accompanying Pilot Davidson had both
legs broken when the speoap,x machine
crashed ir,to TIE ~s,er
The two aviators were in a pre-
carious plight, their plane having
settled into the water until the men.
clinging to the wings, were almost
submerged. when help arrived. Fish
ermen on the shore had heard their
cries.
Suffer From Exposure
The victims of the plunge into the
cold waters suffered much from ex-
posure before they could be assisted
70 the home of Mrs. L. L. Finks. at
Wellington Villa. Va. on the slope
overlooking the scene of the accident.
Stogle was carried to the house by his
rescuers. William Z. KetIand, Will
nam Anderson and Lawrence Baer.
Potomac fishermen.
DR.. Samuel Moore was summoned
from Alexandria and rendered first
aid to the injured man. Ar anbn-
lance was dispatched from Camp
humphreys to bring the men to the
washington Naval Hospital Stogle
is being cared for there and Lieut..
Davidson has returned to his home.
1925 F street.
The hydroplane, which was making
its maiden fight. sank into the river
soon after Davidson and Stogie had
been rescued from the settling wings.
1t was later located and raised by a
rescue boat, dispatched from the navy
yard. and will be taken to Boiling
Field today.
Lieut.. Davidson, who has been a
naval aviator for nearly two years.
and Chief Machinist Mate Stog1e. who
has been st toned at Boiling Field
for Atmpst 8 year. were sent 70 PhfIa-
delphia Friday. with orders to return
at oncs<with- the new. hydroplsns. -
Left PhiiadeIpAisxfI isse. r.,
They sleft i1fhiiaaefpfia at II 80
O'Clock yesterday morning. Landing
was made at Annapolis at I O'clock.
The men took luncheon there and
noted with some concern the gather
ing darkness Of the clouds. which had
been but scattered fragments during
the morning.
After d brief conference Davidson
ana Stogle decided to proceed at once
to Washington. They took off at An
napolis at o'clock Soon they were
enveloped in the storm which swept
this region with Intermittent snow
and showers yesterday afternoon and
evening.
Engine troubles added to the com
plicatfons of the aviators At times
they could not see the earth. For
nearly an hour they flew by the com
pass and later discovered. upon near
ing the earth. that the wind had car
rled them out of their course for some
distance. When the Potomac river
was located, Lieut.. Davidson decided
to follow the stream to Washington.
The binding snow and impending
darkness caused the pilot to settle
nearer and nearer the river surface
He was travelling at a speed of about
fifty miles an hour when the big
plane nosed into the water So violent
was the shock that the boatlike at
tachments of the hydroplane were
wrecked. The plane settled into the
river. 200 yards from the Virginia
shore.
Homer A. Kluckan and George Alb.
bot, who were near Wellington villa
at the time, heard the resounding
splash, when the speeding machine
struck the river. and afterward heard
calls for help. They secured a canoe
and at much peril reached the sink
ing the rescue of the two men. by the
aid of Anderson and Baer.
Three Rivers Stands By.
The Baltimore boat. Three Rivers,
was steaming down the Potomac
about. a thousand yards from the
point where the hydroplane struck
the water when the accident occurred.
The big boat threw it's searchlight
on the sinking plane, and after run
- loNr ST Il
turned to the point of the disaster
and offered assistance. Davidson and
Stogle were being rescued at that
time.
1t is reported that government
tug passed near the sinking machine,
and that the cries of the distressed
airmen should have been heard, but
the boat proceeded on its journey
When Lieut.. Davidson was inter-
viewed, before leaving the Naval Hos
pital for his home, he gave as the rea-
son for the accident, which had
threatened his life and that of StogIe.
TOO much weather"
Couldn't see much for the snow and
the engine was acting bad" he said
1T all happened so quickly we hardly
knew what was up until we found
ourselves in the icy water. 1t seemed
like we fioundered around in the river
an hour before help came"
Will Conduct Investigation.
Medical officers at the Naval Hos
pital assume that Stogle's legs, which
are fractured below the knees. were
broken by the impact against the floor
of his compartment when the plane
struck the water. Stogle does not
think that his legs struck against any
part of the machine. He will be in the
hospital for at least two months, at
tendants state.
An investigating board will be ap-
pointed at the naval aviation station
at Boiling Field to look into the case .
at once. Since Davidson and Stogle
were flying under orders there is no
breach of rules in evidence.
The plane, which is declared to be
partially destroyed. was equipped
with a new liberty motor and was
valued at $4,000. ,