The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-30
SEVEN DIE
(ocnsiausd Prom Page ons)

dead when witnesses from MorEantown
a little village near Indian Head,
the scene.
An OFFICIAL investigation OF the acct
dent will be ordered. Air service off,
GERS say today that when the plane LETT
Langley field 1t was apparently IN per
feet running condition had been func-
tioninE properly during several hours In
the morning and afternoon.
BADLY balanced
Captain De LaVergne. air attache or
tho French embassy. who made the trip
> In the Eagle from Washington. said to-
unbalanced.
The machine was badly balanced"
Captain De La Vergne said. 1t had =
small motor. Of only 400 horse power.
The weight was too much: the pilot
could not control II. declined to re-
turn In it and came back by boat"
Representatives Campbell. OF Kansas
chairman OF the house rules committee,
and Walsh. Of Massachusetts,. who went
to Langley teld in the Eagle. also re-
turned to Washington by boat. Mr..
Campbell said tonight the element Of
safety had not entered into their decl-
stoin not sto return in the Eagle that
both OF them were seasick and the air
In the closed plane was bad.
Vow They Escaped
II the ship had been open we would
have returned in it, said Mr.. Campbell.
II suggested to Walsh that We return
by boat. He was seasick and I did not
feet very steady. We had been more
than two hours at sea in Martin
bomber observing bombing experiments.
"On the way down to Langley Held.
the air was rough and very dumpy. We
Nor nnpAarf,,1lN. 0no1 I'LL a
would run into an air bank like it was
a hillside and then the machine would
drop. some times more than 100 feet"
BriEadier General Mitchell. assistant
chief OF the army air service. who &C
companied the Eagle to Langley field.
and who'had an exciting battle with the
storm during his return fight said lieu
tenant AmeS pilotinS the Eagle. was
considered one OF the best pilots In the
service and that his ship apparently
was in perfect condition.
We felt no concern tor his safety"
said the general. and when the Eagle
circled over the field a couple OF times
before Strengthening out on the north
erly course for Washington. it was run
ming perfectly. We waved goodbye
from the held. expecting that the big
ship would be in Washington before We
were ready to leave Langley"
Made Desperate Effort.
The Eagle left Langley field at about
1870 p. m. yesterday. The time OF the
wreck is placed 1T SIS p. m, the hour
at which Il watch carried BY Mr.. Con-
molly was found 10 have stopped. Naval
officers at Indian Head who saw the
plane 20 down declare that Pilot Ames
tried to bring his machine down before
the rull force OF the storm struck II.
but he was prevented from making
landing at the first attempt by grove
OF trees. The airship crossed over the
trees safely and appeared TO put on
power to reach an open field short
distance away.
Apparently the motor either failed TO
respond or the high wind checked tho
ships flight. 70, II was seen to turn
over and fall nose tirst 1t then was
only a few hundred feet in the air.
Officers at Indian Head sent a detach-
ment to the scene. but j., was some
time before they arrived. and word or
the accident did not reach Boiling held
here until IL o'clock last might,
Wsrs Not worried
Officers At the field had been await
Ing the arrival OF the Eagle. but wnen
she failed 10 arrive early in the even
Ing they assumed that she either hao
landed some where to escape the storm
or mad turned back 10 Langley iete'
Mrs, Ames. wife Of tho pilot. was walt
ing for her husband 1T the landing heid
here. and when the report of the acci-
dent came she started for Morganto~n
In her automobile. arriving after mid
night and remaining there through the
sight
The bodies OF the dead were taken
out Of the plane by the naval detach-
ment and early today were started TO
Washington on navy motor trucks.
Meantime officers in charge OF army
ambulancss had been sent from this
city and the bodies were transferred
@ them and Carried to Walter Reed hos