The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-19
TWO PASSENGERS PINNED DOWN
AND BURNED IN WRECKAGE
Third Terribly Burned, Taken from Machine by Aviator
Who Escapes with Minor Injures-Governor Hart
ness Witness of Tragedy-Fred Harris in Another
Plane at Time of Accident

An appalling tragedy of a magnitude
unknown in Brattleboro for many years
and which resulted in the cessation of
aerial activities at what had been up to
that time one of the most successful
aviation meets in New England, occurred
yesterday afternoon at 4.20, when one of
the huge Curtiss Orioles driven by Pilot
b. t''Jerry'l Hughes of Garden City,
L. l., and carrying as passengers. Miss
Evelyn Harris. sister of Fred H. Harris,
president of the Outing club. Joseph
Trahan. proprietor of the Brooks House
barber shop, and his son, Norman. aged
5. crashed to the ground after striking
a tree and the high tension electric wires
running along the bank of the West
River railroad, and instantly burst into
fame burning Mr.. Trahan and his son
to crisp and burning Miss Harris so
severely that she died at Memorial hos
pital about 10 this morning.
The extent of the calamity has thrown
a heavy pail of grief and sorrow over the
community and over the county and state
The audiences of the disaster, occurring
as it did in the midst of successful avia-
tion event, was for moment hardly COM
pretended by the nearly 1000 persons
who had gathered on the Retreat mead
ows. At first a great lull fell over the
throng that had witnessed the sudden
fall of the plane. and then the crowd.
panic stricken. surged over the wide field
toward the scene of the disaster only to
be stopped by West river, which inter
Yened
The tragedy happened shortly after it
was announced that acrobatic stunts
would be performed. Three of the planes
were in the air at the time. two were at
rest on the field the Inflated 0riole hav-
ing just taken the air, and the seventh
plane. the big army De Haviland, having
already left at 3.25 with ajor f. B.
Lyon as pilot for its return fight to
birmingham, Mass.
Starts ON Fatal Flight.
All during the afternoon, the various
planes, after finishing their part in the
various events, had been giving passen-
ger flights, some of the planes carrying
passe ngers while taking part in the con-
tests. The fatal plane under the direc-
ton of Pilot Hughes left the field on
its last trip at exactly 4.19 with its
three passengers. Five minutes later, the
great ship was mass of twisted iron
and ashes.
All eyes were turned toward the Oriole
as it left the field, and it was noted by
many of the spectators that this was the
first and only plane that attempted to
take off at the northern end of the field.
Governor HartnesS, who had remained TO
see the meet completed, was heard to re-
mark, THAT isn't good direction to
go.
The plane was seen to be laboring with
difficulty as it attempted to attain it's
altitude under its load. but a gradual rise
was effected although not sufficient to
quiet the doubts in the minds of the spec
tators as to whether the plane would
clear the trees north of the field.
When the great yellow ship had risen to
a height of about so feet. its right wing
came in contact with a tall elm tree and
the suddenness of the impact caused re-
tardation in its speed and also served to
turn the course, of the plane at right
angle to the course that it had pursued in
leaving the field.
1t was evident that Pilot Hughes en-
deayored to right his plane and affect a
safe landing on the field adjacent to the
West River railroad, but the high ten
sion wires were in his way and big
fash of light informed the great crowd
of spectators that his plane had caused a
short circuit in the wires which ig-
nited his plane, as it crashed down
to its doom. In a moment flames
were seen bursting from the wreckage
caused by the gasoline which had ex-
nloded
Pilot Hughes Jumps Clear.
Pilot Hughes jumped clear of the
machine but sustained a severe accident
to his nose which later required the TAX
ing Of several stitches at the Memorial
hospital Unmindful of his own injuries.
he rushed TO the passenger cockpit and
endeayored to remove the passengers,
who received the full blast of the flames.
He succeeded in assisting Miss Harris
from her perilous position, but only after
she had been fearfully burned about the
face. hands and body, and after he him.
by the electric current Further attempts
to assist the other two passengers were
impossible because of the rapidity of the
spread of the flames and their intensity.
frantic attempt to render assistance
TO the doomed passengers was made by
Lieut.. Casey Jones. pilot of a sister
0Iinln 1uha eAyam AEnsf river with the