Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-07-18
Sergeant Major Gates
Falls 1000 Feet Fly
ing Upside Down
ACCIDENT CLOSES
BIG AERIAL CIRCUS
Day of Thrills Precedes
Tragedy-P arachute
Leap Staged

The flag over headquarters at Sou
ther Field is floating at half mast to-
day, a grim reminder of a tragedy
which took place at the end of the
flying program of the aerial circus
there yesterday afternoon and put an
end to the plans for an evening of
fun and revelry which had been ar
ranged to round out the second stag
ing of the exhibition.
The flag was at half-mast for Ser
geant Major Gordon Gates, who fell
1000 feet to death from his plane
while flying upside down. The acci-
dent took place about 5 o'clock, af-
ter practically all of the stunt flying
was over and many of the spectators
had left The plane was mile from
the post headquarters when it started
down from a height of 1000 feet.
The pilot was found dead in a corn
patch on the farm of DR.. Frank A.
Thomas, while the wrecked plane was
located two miles farther to the east
ward, it having sailed on in straight
course and an even descending angle
after the driver dropped from it.
1t was announced today by Colonel
RAIDER, commanding officer Of Sou
ther Field, that the funeral of Ser
geant Major Gates would be held at
the post at z 80 o'clock this evening,
and all of the friends of the dead
aviator are cordially invited to attend.
The ceremonies will be conducted by
Secretary Thomas, of the field Y. M.
C. A., following which the body will
be brought to Americas and, with mil
itary honors, will be placed on the
1852 train and started for his faith
er's home at Flushing, L. l.
Circus Big Success.
While the death of Sergeant Major
Gates, who was very popular man
at the field, cast gloom over the
field and the entire community, the
aerial circus which had been without
mishap, up to that time had been
great success from every standpoint,
except attendance. The rain of the
previous day and the low hanging
clouds of all Thursday morning kept
people even from nearby away. The
attendance was estimated at not no1e
than 1000, and it was reported today
that the receipts for the two days en-
tertainment was only sufficient to
break even on the heavy expenses in
Cured.
The program was put through very
much as last Saturday, and the added
thrills were there, too, just as adver-
tised. There was the trapeze work by
Lieut.. A. w. Vance in midair, the ira
peze being suspended from the land
ing gear of plane driven by Lieut..
McMullen, and the promised para
chute leap from flying plane took
place Then there was the flight by
society lade," the lady this time
being "Mrs A. B. McMullen," it was
reported mother of the young lady
who piloted the plane to dizzy heights
and in amazing capers last Saturday"
The parachute leap was put on by
Private Louie H. MCGOWAN, of Quit
man, who was a professional para
chute leaper before entering the SER
vice. The parachute was attached
to a strut about the center of the
plane under the fusilage, and its
silken colds were laid over the lower
wing on the left side of the fusilage.
MCGOWAN rode in the rear seat.
Slowed Down Engine.
When the plane was at height of
about 1000 feet he signalled to the
pilot who slowed down his engine as
he stepped out of the fusilage. Max
ing sure that everything was in readi-
ness, he shouted ''I'm gone" and the
pilot turned the ship nose down 50
that the tail would not interfere. The
parachute opened beautifully with
n 100 feet of the plane and MCGOWAN
drifted slowly and safely to earth on
the south edge Of the landing field.
II was expecting TO drop from 150
to 500 feet before it opened" said