The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-08-18
Tragedy of Captain Hamilton
Adds to AppalIngly Long
List OF Victims.
CAREFUL OR DARING, THEY GO
Is II Luck, Aviators Ask, or Are They
Needless of Minor Dangers SINCE
the War Distinguished
Names In List.

Washington.-After facing death a
thousand times with the marines at
Chateau Thlerry, st. Milnel, Belleau
Wood and In the two Meuse-Argonne
ofIenSives, Capt. George ID. Hamilton
returned to this country and peace
times TO, die "A few days ago while pi-
loting an airplane in sham battle in
Gettysburg. His machine crashed to
earth from height Of 100 feet above
the historic battlefield
In France Captain Iiamiltons rec
ord for daring and for hairbreadth es-
capts was not surpassed by that of
any one in the A. Il. H. lie received
the Distinguished Service Cross from
his own government, and was dec
grated twice by the French for gal
lantry. \ thrilling war painting com
melnorates one of his deeds. II de-
piCtS him, AT that time Il major, lead
ing "a battalion of marines across n
p9utoon bridge over the Meuse un-
der the heavy artillery and machine
gun fire in an effort to establish a
bridgehead.
Uninjured- by enemy bullet, gas, or
high explosive shell, Captain Hamil-
ton was mustered out of the service
ever, IL few months later, and en-.
tered the aviation corps. In the air
the former soldier of the sea" dis
played the same courage and audacity
for which he had been known at the
front. These qualities, combined with
skill and natural aptitude for fly
ing. soon put him in the forerank of
our airmen.
Then came the end. With a num-
Der of others Of his corps Captain
Hamilton was sent 10 take part in
the maneuvers at Gettysburg, where
his old comrades, the marines, were
playing AT war. While scouting ahead
of the Fifth regiment of marines
"something went wrong" and death
claimed life that had seemed
charmed against all mishap.
The passing of Captain Hamilton
adds another name 10 the already
dreadfully long list of airmen who
dared every peril in war or in epoch
making flights across land and sea,
and lived--only To perish in some cas-
ual enterprise that hardly seemed
venture. To compile the appalling
record, 1t Is necessary to 90 back to
the days Of pioneer aviation, when
men like Arch IOxey, Ralph John
stone, John Il. Mosant and others met
death in their rudimentary machines.
The history Of the air since the war
brought aircraft to a high degree of
perfection, has caused Ii to become
almost an omen among aviators that
their best may win hundred odds-on
CANDLES with the grim reaper and then
lose when everything seemed in their
favor.
No country has been exempt. Eng
land, France, America, Italy. In fact,
every nation where flying Is com
mon has furnished It's quota of vic
TINS.
carIstronns Care Of No Avail.
Seven years ago Victor Carlstrom
was regarded as one of the great air
men in America. He was already n
holder Of three American records when
in 1916 he attempted a nonstop flight
from Chicago to New York, for the
New York Times. He was unsuccess-
ful In this, being forced to lasd at
Erie, Pa, and Hammondsport, n. Y.
When he finally got out of his plane
on Governors island, Carlstrom said:
II shall never be killed by taking
chances. because / do not believe In
taking chances But some day my ma
chine will collapse, and l will get IL,
just as so many other aviators have
gotten IT,"
His prophecy came true, on May o,
1917, while flying at Newport News
Ta. as an Instructor lieutenant In the