Americus times-recorder., 1919-07-18
Col. RAIDER Sees
Pilot AS He Falls
Continued From Page 1.)


tone that betrayed his fear even to
be told, for at that time it was
not known to any one, except the
officers who had found him, who
the ill-fated pilot was.
Gates" replied one. And Major
Schofield buried bis face in his
hands.
While the search for the pilot
and plane were going on from the
ground, several flyers skinned the
air above in planes seeking some
trace of the missing man. When
they had been signalled from the
ground that the pilot had been
found they took TIE news to head
quarters, then went in search of
the plane which was later located
nearly two miles to the eastward in
a swamp. In landing it. had swept
the tops of three trees, left one of
its planes in another tree, and
struck on one side, the engine be-
ing buried several feet in the soft
ground. The safety belt in the front
seat was found fastened, but in
the rear seat, where the pilot had
been, it was unbuckled.
In the meantime the post am
bulance was rushed as near to the
scene of the pilots fall as posi-
BILE and the body was carried to it
by his comrades and taken back to
the post. Colonel RAIDER, in side
car, had reached the body ahead of
the ambulance and was waiting
with it.
Safety Belt Unfastened.
Although there appeared to be
no doubt in the minds of those Off
GERS and men who saw the descent
of the plane as to what had happen
ed, it being the concensus of opin-
ion that the pilots safety belt had
not been properly buckled and had
come loose under his weight while
he was flying upside down, there
were numerous rumors and erron-
eous reports about the field and
city Immediately after the acci-
dent. Some of these reports even
were spread by officers. One Off
Ger made the statement down town
last night that Sergeant Major
Gates was attempting to change
seats while flying and fell out.
Several persons reported that the
plane was afre and that the pilot
jumped out. This report was caus-
ed by cloud of black smoke which
suddenly appeared on the horizon
not far from where the plane went
down and almost Immediately af-
terward produced by freight en-
CINE which came by with long
string of cars just in time to
hold up the rescuers 'hurrying to
the scene of the accident.
Several negroes who were in
the fields close to the scene
of the accident also reported that
the plane was afire and the pilot
had jumped out. However, the
wreckage of the plane showed no
traces of fire.
Commissioned Wednesday
Sergeant Major Gates was in
reality a commissioned officer,
having received his commission as
second lieutenant and rating of R.
M. A. Wednesday, the day previous
to his death He was to have re-
ceived his discharge August /, and
planned to return to his parents
home at Flushing, L. l.
He came to Souther Field early
IN the year as a private, but was
already skilled flyer, having had
previous service in the marine av-
lation service at Miami, Fla, where
he had received his discharge. He
entered the army under the last
draft, and was assigned 70 the air
service because Of his experience.
He was a flyer of ability and
had had great deal of expert
ence in the air. Last Saturday he
won the looping contest, making
25 loops in 10 minutes and being
pitted against the best flyers at
thn most