, 1922-02-22

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dead. eight injured and three pracn
ally unhurt- OF the dead thirty had
bcen identified although many OF tho
bodies OF those caught in M interior
OF the ship when she crashed were
burned. blackened and charTed almosi
beyond recognition.
These dead ineiuded some OF the air
services most gallant officers and
men. the list containing the names OF
Major John Thorneil. commander of
the ship at her christening in Wash
irgton last December and Captain
Dale Mabry. her commander during
yesterdays Inflated flight.
Air service meu rom Langley Field
the home station of the craft. began
shortly after dawn today the clearing
up Of h wreckRge VI the warped acd
blistered skeleton ard at the same
time preparations began for an Off
cial inquiry. Major General Mason NJ.
Patrick. CHIEF OF the air service who
came hero by airpiane yesterday as
soon as word OF tho disaster was
flashed to Washington. made a person
al inspection OF the wreck during the
night and ordered an immediate in
vestigation.
Officers at f4angler Field still were
at a loss to account for no mishap
that caused the ships rudder q tilt
and thereby rendered the 40 foot
craft to become unxmanaxeable. Pos.
sibility developed however. that the
inquiry would take notice of reports
that the bag OF h Roma. constructed
in Italy. was rotten although officers
at tho field declined to discuss such
reports In connection with the forth
coming inquiry. these Developments
some officers said. had been establish
cd definitely:
Flint, that the left ruler Of the
Roma gave way when ,1ie was less
than half n mile from where she went
down rear tho army base fire station
Second. that there was no fire on
the ship until after the tilt began as
rudd-r going into an almost vertical
position
Third. that the craft began unman-
ageable as she swooped over the base
reservation. narrowly missing a $50
foot smokestack Of the Central Heat
Ing plant
Fourth. that the irnmediate cause Of
the explosion with such force as 70
wreck the entire craft and set her on
fire was contact with a net OF 1900
volt high power electric wires. less
than one hundred feet from where the
Roma crashed into a Pile OF debris.
Fifth. that tho Liberty motors.
which were being tested. were not
.u-w.-~lhN< F~ 81. lt~or~r tt-rouu
something more tangible should be
learned than appeared today.
The point which the army board OF
investigation, which will he organized
today. will decide IL what cause the
rudder supports to give way. There
were two pilots in charge of the
ships steering gear. They were Capt.
Walter j. Reed and Lieut. b. G.
Burt, both of whom had been at the
wheels of the Roma on previous trips.
Burt was uninjured and Reed is on
the road to recovery from slight IN
tures-
Charles Dworack. superintendent OF
construction of McCook field. Dayton.
Ohio. one Of the passengers on the
Roma. was in a serious condition to
day at the public health hospital. hav.
ing swallowed flames and is also SUI
fcring from the effects of gas fumes
Other injured survivors are expected
to Cow
Work of Identification progressed
slowly last night, the officers and
men from Langley detailed for this
work completing their examination
shortly before daylight. Identified
ton was established by scars. teeth
and hair In some instances, but even
then there were fou bodies which NO
one could positively identify.
A morbidly curious crowd miIled
about outside of the undertaking cs.
tablishment a into the night. One
or two ventured inside on one or an
other pretext but staggered put gasp
ing for breath a few seconds later
There was n man who stood stole.
ally by. never shifting his position.
| He was Dr.-J. II. Mabry OF Newport
News. He vas looking for his broth.
or. Captain Mabry. Body after body
was identified or sent back for a later
examination. The last body brought
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