Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-13
navy WILL PROBE
FIGHT OF A|RMEN
Secretary Daniels Orders In
vestigation Into All Details
3b Of Balloon Trip
MEN TALK OVER TROUBLES

Hinton. to definitely establish respon-
sibility for the action and speech Of the
naval aviators from the date of their
departure from the Far Rockaway
naval station until they reached civil
isation, Secretary Of the Navy Daniels
announced late yesterday.
The court of inquiry will be named
either by the commandant of the Far
Rockawey station. TO which the bal
loonists were attached, or as the per-
sonal action of the naval secretary. Mr.
Daniels said adding that an official
clarification of the atmosphere was de-
sirable, not only in justice to the fiers.
hut to ascertain IL raval traditions were
violated.
Secretary Daniels indicated that the
naval court would be expected to 20
thoroughly into all angles Of the case.
with view to clearing ur all disputes
between the airmen, as well as to es-
tablish complete justification for the
flight terminating as II did The naval
court will be authorized TO consider any
complaint which Lieutenant Farrell
might desire to advance against Lieu
tenant Hinton growing out of the lat
ter's letter to his wife. which reflected
on Farrell's courage. and specific direc
tions will be given the court to ascer-
tain the airmen sought to profit by
their experience through the publication
of their stories.
Mattice. Ont, Jan. 13.-Lieutenants
Stephen A. Farrell and Walter Hin
ton, who. on their arrival here from
Moose Factory, came to blows over the
truth or propriety of a letter which
r Hinton wrote to his wife in New York
in which Hinton pictured his fellow air
man as begging to be slain to aid his
comrades, yesterday smoked the pipe OF
peace.
Americans here cited the fact
that none of the three airmen was
graduated from the Naval Academy.
The commander, Lieutenant Kloor, en-
tered the navy when war came and Is
in the Reserve Force, Aviation Section.
Lieutenant Hinton enlisted in the navy
three years ago and has the temporary
rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant Farrell
enlisted seventeen years ago and has
the temporary rank of Lieutenant, his
permanent rank being chief gunner.
Sitting side by side in q private
car placed at their disposal by the Cana
dian Government. Hinton and Farrell
Jointly declared tnat nothing which had
occurred would "lessen the affection
they felt for each other, referred to one
another as good old PAL" and author
lied a statement prepared by their
commander. Lieutenant L. A. kloor,
Jr., as follows:
.'In regard to the controversy between
the two passengers who, accompanied
me on the fight of balloon A-550S,
Lieutenants Stephen \. Farrell and
Walter A. Hinton, l wish to lake it
definitely clear that this controversy
was entirely and in every respect the
outcome of overwrought minds brought
on by the hardships and gruelling
struggles that had to be endured on the
trip over the trail from Mattice.
"On several occasions during the trip.
after a long and tiresome walk. at times
one or two of us would become grouchy
and at the slightest irritation would
make a fuss. These quarrels were only
on the spur of the moment and tenn
porary disagreements. Almost as quickly
as they would start they would end, and
all hands were as usual the best and
strongest of friends.
'I also wish to state that as COM
mander of the balloon which I flew
to Moose Factory, had perfect liberty
70 select any of the officers at the sta
ton l wished to accompany me on the
trip and authorization would be made
by my commanding officer. In picking
my passengers, Lieutenants Farrell
and Hinton, l selected them because
they were two Of my warmest friends
and were themselves the warmest of
friends.
Were Best OF Friends
During the trip the three of us
have been the best OF friends and have
sacrificed for each other mutually and
without partiality and have fought this
battle out as one composite group Of
shipmates and, in accordance with the
traditions Of the United States Navy,
did all We could to uphold our dignity
and its dignity and will ever be brothers
and the best of friends. Such petty
auarrels as have occurred will not les
sen our affection for one another.
1--WE have threshed out the whole
matter among us, said Lieutenant
Farrell, 'and have decided that it is to
be a closed book SO far as am con-
cerned l am sorry for what took place
yesterday. temporarily lost control
of myself, simply because | was tired
out through loss Of sleep, and with my
impulsive nature started in to
settle a grievance after the fashion OF
the old navy days. But ii is all over
now, l have no hard feelings, and l
believe what is said by my old pal "
Farrell brought his hand down upon
Hinton's shoulder, and Hinton whose
jaw still showed the effect Of Farrell :
punch, seemed plainly pleased
Not Intended for Publication
81 want to say" broke in Lieuten =
ant Hinton, that that letter which
wrote my wife was never intended for
publication, in fact | wrote upon it
that it was not 10 be published, just
as all of ~ had agreed. | am sorry
that it was published, but as Steve
has said. we have gone over all of that
among ourselves and want the matter
dropped"
=, The men chattcd freely about thcil
experience at Moose Factory.
Had Real Christmas
'"The Hudson Bay Co. people treated
us like gentlemen" Lieutenant FarreI
said. They could not do enough fol
us, and on Christmas Eve night W,
had q real party. The Hudson Bay
factor acted as Santa Claus and
have carried all tho way with me {
little bag of candy which he bough
for my little girl Emily.
AS the aviator mentioned his Iittl
girl his face lighted up.
emily is one of these dear gooc
little things" he said. ''Shc goes T.
a. school run by the sisters. Thl
morning | telegraphed my wife, and il
the telegram ] said that if was save
by prayers at all it must have beer
prayers of our little saint "
SICK WOMAN GIVES ALARM