The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-03
DEATH IN THE PLANE
Terrible Accident Occurred
In Maryland
AFFAIR TO BE PR0BED
Ambulance Filler Crushed In
Storm; Five Army Officers
~ Met Death

Washington, May 30.-Army Off
cials were preparing today for an
official investigation of the crash
during a storm last Saturday, near
Indian Head, Maryland, of the ambu-
lance airplane in which seven men,
five army officers and two civilians
met death. The fact that every oc-
cupant or the machine was killed,
making 1t necessary for board OF
inquiry to depend largely on the
observations of distant eye witnesses
in forming its conclusions, made 1t
appear doubtful that the exact cause
OF the disaster could be developed.
The plane, Curtiss eagle, which
had been Invested of it's ambulance,
equipment was making a returning
to Washington when 1t encountered
a severe electrical storm accompan-
led by winds estimated to be blowing
at a hundred miles velocity.
Dead Closely Grouped Together.
Those who reached the wreck first
found all, seven men dead. All the
bodies were closely grouped together,
some badly mutilated by the engine
which had been torn from its bed
and thrown backward. cutting the
men down like scythe as it plough
compartment A watch later found
had stopped at 6:25 o'clock showing
the time of the tragedy. Army Off
GERS who viewed the wreckage said
It was the worst they had ever seen
and were at a loss to understand how
It could have resulted from such
short fall. Several officers killed
wore decorations for service in the
World war and both of the civilians
mid al ~
Lieutenant Colonel y Archie Miller
served in the Spanish American,
Philippine Islands Instruction where
he won the congressional medal of
honor, and in the World war. He at
one time was in command of Mitchell
field, Long Island. Lieutenant Stan
ley NJ .Ames, who had been married
only about three weeks, served in
both the. Canadian and American
were bayonet would with the Cana
dams. He was regarded as an expert
pilot as well as an authority on aero
engineering. Both made their home
in Washington.
Was Twice Decorated.
Lieutenant C. w. McDermott.
whose home was in Syracuse, N. Y,
was stationed at Langley field. He
served in both the Canadian and
American ny luS iOICCo uhu WoS uCS
Grated by both governments for valor
in the World war. He was officially
credited with bringing down Two
German planes. Lieutenant John M.
Penne Will was stationed at Lang
ley field. Sergeant Richard Blumen-
kran, an expert mechanic was sta
toned at Boiling field here.
Maurice Connolly of the civilians,
a native of Dubuque, Iowa, sales
manager of the Curtiss Aeroplane
company, was a former congress
man, and he served in the air serv-
ice during the war with the rank of
major. A. c. Batchelde, the other
civilian killed, was former news
paper man and one of the organizers
of the American automobile associa-
ton and chairman of its board of
directors. He was native OF Atti-
The bodies were brought to Wash
ington and taken to Walter Reed
hospital Other machines returning
from the Langley field maneuvers
were caught in the storm. Captain
B. s. Wright, flying q Fokker ma
chine, was caught in the wind and
forced down. In attempting to land
his plane crashed but he escaped
with only a bad shaking up and bruis-
es, although his craft was complete
.ly wrecked