Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-09
Sergeant HI. S. Peterson Vic
tim When Machine Drops
Near Fair Grounds.
LIEUTENANT ]. E. JAMES,
PILOT. ESCAPES INJURY
Soldier. Unhurt by Fall, Is Elec-
trocuted When He Comes in
Contact With Current.
STARTED TO LANGLEY FIELD
Tall OF Airplane Catches in High
Tension Lines as 1t Ascends
for Return to Hampton.

Escaping death when the airplane in
which he was riding plunged to earth
at the State Fair Grounds here, Ser
seant II. S. Peterson. aviation me-
chanic from Langley Field. less than
minute later came in contact with
a part OF the machine charged with
electricity. and was almost instantly
killed.
When the airplane fell its tail
caught upon hish-tcnsion electric
wire This current charged every pos
and although Sergeant Peterson ex-
traGted himself from his seat. in the
excitement. touched q charged section
His companion. Lieutenant j. L.
James, who was plotting the car. cs-
capped unhurt.
o'clock yesterday afternoon AZ the ny-
crs were making their start for
return t,d =. trip to Langley Field; They
In the day. In making the getaway"
the machine failed to attain tho proper
height. and the tail caught in the
south of the Fair Grounds.
When the machine struck the wires
1t crashed to earth, tearing down a
Peterson was first to unbucklc him
self from his seat and step from the
car. Lieutenant James. according to
AT the Fair Grounds. was just behind
him. and felt a slight electric shock
%s .S.W ne deSecnded <.;Ss from @ the mashine
JUST BEFORE TRAGEDY
Peterson was instantly warned to
stay away from the car by the officer:
ieft the pilots lips. the mcrhanic came
into contact with the electricity,
AT the same instant the plane took
in a private automobile and sent TO
Stuart Circle Hospital, but before the
car arrived there he was dead
partment OF the Richnond Training
schools detachment. under command
OF Captain Hopkins succeeded in ex-
tinsuis sling the burning airplane be-
gore II was entirely destroyed. al
though Il was damaged considerably
Lieutenant James. who is reported
( ley F.cid. having been an aviator for
Ave years, with Sergeant Jefferson as
his nechan!c; flew from the aviation
ing with repair parts for another plane.
which had broken down.
MOTOR TROUBLE RELIEVED
TO HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT
After the officer and his mechanic
had repaired the damaged machine.
which was under the command OF Lieu
$40 o'clock for the return trip to
Langley Field. Lieutenant James and
Sergeant Peterson were to follow inn
started. The tragedy resulted when
this plane caught on the electric wires.
1t was believed last night that motor
trouble: which prevented the machine
from rising as II should. was the pri-
mary cause of the accident.
Sergeant Peterson's body was re-
meyfd ni9s to from The stuart W Circle R.I5e, Hos
inoreuc. Belvidere and Broad Streets.
carly in the evening. where il was
viewed by City Coroner j. NJ. Whit
field. who attributed the death to cleo
trocution. burns on the hands plainly
indicating how the soldier. died.
be left TO the authorities at Langley
be removed from Richmond to-day.
PETERSON'S HOME IN ST. PAUL;
WAS TRAINED AT KELLY FIELD
1t was stated last night that Ser
mond Avenue; st, Paul, MINI. He
years old. EnlistinE in the aviation
branch Of the army last March. he was
sent to Kelly Field. Tex. for training.
During. April he returned to st. Paul.
mechanics school. Early in Septem-
Der he was assigned to Langley Field.
where he had attained n reputation as
an expert mechanic. according to avia-
ton officers here last night.
After the flames were eXtinguished.
the damaged airplane on truck. and
IT will be shipped to Langley Field
for repairs this morning.
TWO ARMY AYIATORs LOSE;
LIVES IN CAPE FEAR RIVER
Lieutenant Harley III. Pope, of Bed
ford Ind and Sergeant w w