The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-21
LIEUT.. PURYEAR
HURLED DEATH
WHEN FALLS
Memphis Flyer Brother of
D. B. Puryear Former Judge
First Criminal COurt-First
Prisoner to Escape Huns.

After having the distinction Of being
the first American soldier to escape
lhrough the German lines In the world
Wat, SUFFERING u~nspeakable hardships
peIore he reached the American lines.
First Lieut., George W. Puryear. Mem
phis aviator, was decFeed BY fate to
meet MS death in a plunge from an
the ground.
Lieut.. Puryear, brother Of D. b. Pur-
year. former Judge of the First division
eriininai court, was almost instantly
kllled at 2;3O o'clock Monday afternoon
az Calexioo, Cal, when q plane he was
pllotlnE. crashed 70 earth from a dis
lance o. about use feet from the ground
When the engine went dead.
Lieut.. Pufyear was on border patrol
at the time Of his fatal accident, flying
ron to which he was attaehed ~ San
Diego, Cal. He had Just taken off
from the landing field at Ceiexico when
the engine In the DeHaviland plane
went dead when the machine was up
about 300 feet. He was seer to ma
neuver the craft in an effort to vol
plane to the field again. His altitude,
however, was too low and the craft
iurched, turned nose downward and
plunged to earth, nose on.
With terrific force the Memphis FLYER
was hurled against the edge OF the
cockpit, fracturing his skull. His left
leg also was broken. FIe died five min
held had lifted him from the wreck
Of his machine.
Immediately on receipt OF the tele-
gram announcing his brothers death
Judge ID. B, Puryear tool charge Of
the funeral arrangements. The body
viii be forwarded from Rockwell field
to Gallatin, Tenn.
The body win be shipped to the fam
lily home at that town for burial, pass
ing through Memphis on the way the
latter part of the week.
Lieut.. Puryear's experiences while in
the banda Of the Huns and his subse4
quent escape numbered among the most
thrilling ~escapades experienced by any
soldiers In the American expeditionary
force, Having enlisted In Memphis in
May, 1877, Joining with Estes Armstrong
and other companions the aviation
school at North Memphis Driving park,
he soon won distinction as q flyer and
was doing overseas duty by November
OF the same year,
Early the following year he was In
the thick OF the fighting, and on June
rs, 1918, downed his first enemy lane
after a terrific running combat. forcing
MS adversary to earth with his plane
in flames.
Seeing his vanquished foe suffer SO
severely by the fall and thinking he
was back Of the American lines, Lieut..
Puryear descended, only to find him
self surrounded and in the hands OF the
enemy. He was sent to a prison camp
in Germany. on the night OF Oct. 6,
1918, with 70 other Americans, Lieut..
Puryear made his escape from the prts-
on camp at vilingen only after several
narrow escapes from death at the hands
of the guards.
Suffering many ardships, Lieut.. Pur-
year, together with Harold Willis, Of
Boston, and Naval Lieut.. Isaacs. Of W.
ginla, reached the Rhine. Swimming
that stream, the trio oon reached Swift
zerland and Lieut.. Puryear eventually
his squadron.
After the armlstice the gallant flyer
returned Immediately to the states and
surprised his Memphis relatives by
dropping in on them last Christmas.
Lieut., Puryear il survived by his
mother, Mrs. W. p. Puryear. OF G~ailatin,
and six brothers, w. p. Pur-
year. ,of Gallatin; r, c, W. Puryear, of
IIartsville, Tenn. ID. o. Puryear, OF Al
gonna, Miss; G., A. Puryear, of NASH
Vile; Alfred |, Puryear, now In Wash |
ington, Judge d. B. Puryear, Of this
affts ..f